THE government is sticking to its stand to allow Malaysians to “balik kampung” to celebrate Aidilfitri, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

In fact, he said, he had advised those he met to celebrate Aidilfitri with their families after two years of not celebrating the festival in their hometowns following the implementation of the movement-control order to curb the spread of Covid-19.

He said as the prime minister, he will do things differently this year by not holding an open house at Seri Perdana on the first day of Aidilfitri, which is the norm for every Aidilfitri, to give the people the opportunity to celebrate the festival with their families first.

“I mentioned to them (whom I met) that their children can return home to celebrate (Aidilfitri) this year,” he said.

“I believe many ‘balik kampung’ on the first day of Ramadan because the roads were congested then.

“This time, to give people the opportunity to ‘balik kampung” for raya, we will hold the prime minister’s open house on May 8.

“Do ‘balik kampung’ to celebrate raya with your family first, because the eve of raya has been awaited eagerly, to prepare for the celebration together.”

Ismail, who is also Bera MP, said this when met after presenting donations from the Petronas Foundation to the underprivileged, including the poor, persons with disabilities, orphans and single mothers at the Al-Muttaqin Mosque, Kampung Mengkarak, Bera today.

However, in the excitement of returning to their hometowns, Ismail asked the public to continue to exercise self-control even though a lot of flexibility has been given after the country entered the transition to the endemic phase on April 1.

“Although self-control is not mandatory, the wearing of masks is still mandatory. I hope everyone can continue practising self-control to ensure their own safety as well as that of their family members and others even if there is no more physical distancing required.”

Muslims in Malaysia are likely to celebrate Aidilfitri on May 3 and Ismail said the open house for the Bera parliamentary constituency will be held on May 7 at Dataran Kerayong. – Bernama, April 16, 2022.