PETALING JAYA: The date for the sighting of the new moon of Syawal is set on Sunday (March 30).
This was informed by the Office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal on the order of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia with the consent of the Conference of Rulers.
The Office of the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, in a statement on Thursday (March 20), stated that the Conference of Rulers had agreed that 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 will declare the date for Aidilfitri the same night through radio and television broadcasts.
A total of 29 locations have been identified for the sighting of the Syawal new moon, namely Baitul Hilal Bangunan Sultan Ismail, Pontian in Johor; Falak Al-Khawarizmi Complex in Melaka; Baitul Hilal Telok Kemang, Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan; Bukit Melawati, Kuala Selangor; Bukit Jugra, Banting dan Sabak Bernam Observatory in Selangor, Sabak Bernam di Selangor; Falak Sheikh Tahir Centre, Pantai Aceh in Penang; Hilal Observation Station at Kampung Pulau Sayak and Alor Setar Tower in Kedah.
Other locations are the Hilal Observation Station Bukit Kampong Tembeling, Menara Bangunan SEDC, Bukit Peraksi, Pasir Puteh in Kelantan and Hilal Observation Station in Bukit Besar, Bukit Geliga, Pulau Perhentian and KUSZA in Terengganu.
The locations in Sarawak are at Falak Centre in Miri, Bintulu and Teluk Bandung.
Other locations include Menara 188, Kuantan, Tapak Cerapan Hilal Bukit Tanjong Gunung Berincang in Pahang; Balai Cerap Al-Biruni and Menara Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in Sabah as well as Kuala Lumpur Tower, Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) and Masjid Al-Hussain in Kuala Perlis.
