KOTA KINABALU – After celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri in a closed environment with their immediate families for the past two years, many Sabah Muslims have plans for merry-making with friends and relatives this year, even though some are constrained by financial difficulties.
During the height of Ramadan, malls in Sabah were packed with visitors shopping for the festivities based on how far they could stretch their pockets.
With the easing of the various lockdowns faced by the nation over the past two years, many are also excited to visit friends and family near or far, especially in light of the reduced airfares from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia.
Double celebration for former assemblyman
For former assemblyman Datuk Ramlee Marhaban, this Hari Raya is even more momentous – not only because Malaysia is transitioning into the endemic phase, allowing more freedom of movement, but also because his son is getting married.
“One (celebration) for Raya and one (celebration) for my son’s wedding, which will be for two days.
“The wedding will first take place on May 21 in our kampung (village) in Semporna and May 22 at our house in Kota Kinabalu,” said the former Bugaya assemblyman, who explained that Raya only comes once a year and the wedding would only be once in a lifetime.
“Insha’Allah – we are planning a big one this year,” Ramlee told The Vibes.
However, he refused to share the cost of both his celebrations.
Special EPF withdrawal helps pay for Raya open house
Meanwhile, sector manager Rozlan Tiarbak said that he will host an open house for family and close relatives on the third day of Hari Raya, once the “mandatory” visits are over.
On the first day of the festivities, he plans on heading to his parents’ home to dine with them and on the second day, his family will be visiting his in-laws.
In Malaysia, it is traditional for children to visit their parents on the first or second day of Hari Raya if they are married. Bachelors will usually spend the first day of the celebration with their parents before going off on Raya visits.
“I am spending more money to get Raya clothes for the kids in Kota Kinabalu because I want the kids to enjoy Raya better this year as the pandemic has stopped us from celebrating,” said Rozlan, who is a middle-income earner hailing from Sandakan.
He spent RM600 on new clothes for his three children when he went to Kota Kinabalu for a little shopping spree before the last weekend of Ramadan.
Rozlan has also set aside RM200 for kuih Raya (cakes, cookies and sweets), RM300 for traditional Hari Raya dishes and another RM400 for the cost of traveling to Kota Kinabalu and back.
Seeing that his wife’s family hails from Kota Kinabalu, they will also be celebrating the festivities there.
The father of three also took note that this year’s expenses have become more costly compared to the past, seeing that prices of goods have increased due to the pandemic and the global economic fallout.
Fortunately for Rozlan, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) special withdrawal of RM10,000, which has already been disbursed, really helped him to cover all the expenses.
“Being a middle-income earner doesn’t mean anything now. With three kids who are aged 10, 8 and 6, coupled with other commitments like the monthly payment for my car and house, we are just living just enough to get by each month.
“My EPF money can only cover so much, and my wife as a government servant does not get the EPF money.
“The government cannot assume that everyone is living better because of the RM10,000 because not everyone is getting the money,” he said.
Saving up for Raya, using EPF withdrawals for daily expenses
His sentiments were shared by Ahmad Bakar, who was glad that the special withdrawal was realised, as he could use it to cover his daily expenses.
The Kota Kinabalu wedding photographer and whose wife is running an online flower arranging business said they had saved up RM10,000 to celebrate this year.
“My budget for Raya this year is about RM10,000 but they are not from the EPF money. I saved the money for months for Raya. It is for Raya clothes, food, duit Raya (money packets) for the children, nephews and nieces, as well as for our parents, and Raya decorations.
“The EPF money is helping me a lot because my income has been affected by the pandemic,” said Ahmad Bakar who revealed no plans to travel around during the holidays.
He has also organised a get-together but has divided his guests into time slots to prevent huge crowds from turning up in one go.
Concern over Covid-19, small gatherings with relatives only
For 32-year-old Sunarti Laimi, although her family is not planning any gathering this year, she still expects some visitors for Hari Raya.
“We are planning a simple Raya. We have set aside RM2,000 for all the preparations including new clothes and food.
“Not sure if we are organising an open house yet because the house is so small. But we are still expecting close relatives and a small gathering session,” said Sunarti who also expressed concern over a Covid-19 outbreak if her family held a big get-together that day.
Still celebrating despite no work for two years
Mohamad Rasidie Romzi, a subcontractor for an oil and gas firm, said although his business is facing a difficult time, it will not stop his family from celebrating Raya.
Even though he has not been able to find any jobs over the past two years due to the pandemic, Rasidie said he was still able to set aside just a little below RM1,000 for the celebrations.
He said he was able to afford one set of Raya clothes for himself, his wife and their 12-year-old daughter.
“I work as an oil and gas offshore subcontractor and onshore as a technician, but I haven’t been able to receive any jobs for the last 2 years.
“It is not because of the pandemic, but jobs have been reducing in Sabah and Labuan since 2015.
“Now Sabah-based technicians like myself will accept jobs in Sabah and other states too.” – The Vibes, April 24, 2022
Additional reporting by Jason Santos
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