PETALING JAYA: As Muslims in the country welcome the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday (Feb 19), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the obligation of fasting is not merely about fulfilling one of the five pillars of Islam.
He added that Ramadan is the time for Muslims to strive to understand its deeper wisdom and the objectives of the Islamic faith.
“Praise be to Allah, we express our utmost gratitude to Him for granting us the opportunity to once again meet the noble and long‑awaited month of Ramadan,” he said in a social media post on Wednesday (Feb 18).
In this context, he said the motivation in performing acts of worship during the Ramadan month should be driven by the spirit of mujahadah (to strive against sins).
He added that such acts of worship throughout the holy month should be driven by the spirit of mujahadah, not solely in pursuit of rewards in the hereafter.
At the same time, he noted that Ramadan serves to strengthen self-discipline and cultivate a stronger commitment to carrying out daily duties and responsibilities with sincerity and dedication.
“The ultimate reward of this practice is the attainment of piety, which must be nurtured through fasting as a process of character building, rooted in a conscious awareness of the heart and an inner vigilance shaped by fear of Allah,” he said.
On Tuesday (Feb 17), Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad announced that Muslims will begin the Ramadan dawn-to-dusk month-long fast starting Thursday.
He said the date was set by the order of His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia and was consented to by the Rulers.
The sighting of the new moon for the commencement of Ramadan took place on Tuesday.
The fasting month also overlaps with Chinese New Year, which was celebrated on Feb 17, signalling a double “celebration” for Malaysians in the country.
Most Muslims took the two-day public holiday from Feb 17 to 18 to prepare for the fasting month and spend time with their families.
KTMB is offering a 30% discount for all Electric Train Service (ETS) routes in conjunction with Ramadan, which began on Wednesday.
On Sunday (Feb 15), KTMB announced a 20% discount for selected ETS trips from Sunday to Feb 22 in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations and the start of Ramadan.
