[PHOTOS] City folk back to braving Raya traffic to ‘balik kampung’

KUALA LUMPUR – Major highways along the peninsula have been choked up by tens of thousands of cars over the past few days, as many Malaysians make their first trip in two years back to their home villages to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

The annual Muslim celebration had been muted over the past two years, when the country - as with the rest of the world - grappled with runaway infections of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But with the gross majority of Malaysians fully vaccinated and given booster doses, the government decided it was time to allow people to gradually return to normalcy and celebrate Aidilfitri with family and friends.

The only problem is that the traditional Hari Raya exodus from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur appears to have come back with a vengeance, with many commuters complaining of traffic jams spanning more than 10km and their trips back home taking up to twice as long compared to the last time they went back before the pandemic hit.

Despite the grumblings, Malaysians remain grateful that they can “balik kampung” to celebrate a meaningful Aidilfitri this year.

Documenting the return of the Raya exodus is The Vibes photographer, ABD RAZAK LATIF. – The Vibes, May 2, 2022