Everyone is preparing themselves this time, even if astronomy tells us that the likelihood of sighting the moon on Thursday night is even lower now compared to then.
The Prime Minister has declared that both Friday and Monday will be public holidays, thus removing the uncertainty for businesses, albeit at a cost.
With the illegal Israeli-US war against Iran continuing – seemingly without purpose, given President Donald Trump’s daily contradictory statements – Gulf countries have made adjustments too, mandating that Eid prayers will happen inside mosques only, not in outdoor spaces, with defence forces ready to intercept Iranian missiles and drones as they have done over the past three weeks.
It is difficult for us here to get a real sense of how safe it actually is, with parts of the Western media, long jealous of the stability and wealth of Dubai and Doha coupled with disdain for their fellow citizens enjoying low-tax lives of relative luxury there, deliberately aiming to overdramatise the danger; and parts of social media (in particular licensed influencers in the UAE) allegedly being tasked to minimise it. Add to that the confusion caused by AI-generated graphics, footage deliberately mislabelled for time and location, and bots in the comments.
My contacts in the region say that militaries in the region have done an amazing job in repelling the vast majority of attacks, but talk of ammunition running low is a major concern.
My cousin’s family has now returned to Kuala Lumpur from Doha, and yet the Hari Raya festivities will be subdued here too, with the Prime Minister citing “cost-saving measures” amid the economic fallout from the conflict to cancel government and government-linked company open houses.
Already, many colleagues have questioned the logic of this decision.
Yes, costs have already gone up, but the festive season is also a huge economic lifeline, especially for those in hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment and logistics.
Private companies and individuals are unlikely to step in to cover the shortfall, not only because they lack the scale, but also to avoid the optics of contradicting the government’s decision.
These losses are also separate from the fact that many deals are actually negotiated and agreed upon at open houses: they are, as I have written before, a uniquely relaxed platform for government, corporate and civil society leaders to assemble and exchange ideas, put forward business proposals and perhaps untangle impediments insurmountable in the boardroom but extricable over a shared tube of lemang.
No doubt, speculation about politics will pick up pace after Raya, with the Prime Minister’s two decisions above already being cast in electoral lens, and movements within parties such as the appointments of new leaders and the readmission of expelled members interpreted as lining up the cast for the next general election.
As much as the adults of the world want to enrich themselves / serve the people and kill their opponents literally or metaphorically, it was the interaction with kids this Ramadan that provided the best reminders of humanity.
At the new Masjid Tunku Ali Redhauddin in Jempol, I asked a boy how he would spend the duit Raya that I had just given him. He was wearing a football jersey so I suggested it might go towards new boots, but he said he’d spend it on food for his family, because things have got expensive at the market.
After breaking fast at Yayasan Chow Kit, a Pakistani boy spoke in flawless English about the displacement of his family and how Malaysia has been a beacon of peace and hope, even as his country faces political polarisation and a conflict with neighbouring Afghanistan.
At the iftar at Ideas International School – now roughly equally populated by Malaysian and UNHCR students, unity was exhibited in practice both at a students’ arts exhibition entitled “Across the same sky”, the screening of a short film I Am Campur and my reprise with the student choir in performing This is Me from The Greatest Showman.
Combined with the buka puasa at the Ideas Autism Centre in Nilai – also attended by the think tank team – I was reminded how policy papers can evolve to proofs of concept and ultimately to concrete initiatives that can transform the next generation.
More so than usual, it was the words, actions, aspirations and dreams of children, rather than adults, that inspired me this fasting month.
Selamat Hari Raya to all my readers!
Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin is founding president of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas). The views expressed here are the writer’s own.
