KUALA LUMPUR: The date for the sighting of the new moon of Syawal is set for April 20 at 29 selected locations nationwide.
This was announced by the Office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal on the order of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong with the consent of the Conference of Rulers.
It said the Conference of Rulers agreed the date of Aidilfitri would be decided based on the Rukyah (sighting of the new moon) and Hisab (astronomical calculations).
The Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal would declare the date for Aidilfitri the same night through radio and television broadcasts, said the statement.
A total of 29 locations have been identified for the sighting of the Syawal new moon, namely: Pontian Kecil, Johor; the Al-Khawarizmi Astronomy Complex in Kampung Balik Batu, Tanjung Bidara, Melaka; the Baitul Hilal Complex (Telok Kemang Observatory) in Negri Sembilan; Bukit Melawati, Kuala Selangor; Bukit Jugra, Banting; the Sabak Bernam Observatory in Selangor; Pasir Panjang, Manjong in Perak; and Pusat Falak Sheikh Tahir, Pantai Aceh in Penang.
Other locations are Kampung Pulau Sayak Kuala Muda, Pulau Langkawi, and Alor Setar Tower in Kedah; Bukit Besar Kuala Terengganu, Bukit Geliga, Kemaman, Pulau Perhentian, Besut; and the KUSZA Observatory in Setiu, Terengganu.
In Kelantan, the locations for sighting the new moon are in Bukit Peraksi, Pasir Puteh; Bukit Kampung Tembeling, Kuala Krai; and Menara Bangunan SEDC, Kota Baru; while in Sarawak, they are at the Falak Centre, Miri; Teluk Bandung, Kuching; and Tanjung Batu, Bintulu.
The sighting locations in Sabah are at the Al-Biruni Observatory, Putatan, and Menara Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Labuan International Campus; while in Pahang, they are at Bukit Tanjong, Batu Nenasi, Gunung Berincang and Bukit Pelindong.
Three other locations are at the Kuala Lumpur Tower, the Putrajaya International Convention Centre and the Al-Hussain Mosque Observation Tower in Kuala Perlis. — Bernama
