King, Selangor Ruler extend Raya wishes
PETALING JAYA: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, extended their Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings to all Muslims in the country.
In his Royal Address when opening the Third Session of the 14th Parliament yesterday, His Majesty wished all Muslims a blessed fasting month and reminded them to pay their zakat (tithes).
“Continue with your ibadah (worship) and don’t forget to pay the zakat. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Maaf Zahir dan Batin from me, the Queen and our family,” said His Majesty.
Meanwhile, the King also reminded Malaysians to always take care of themselves, their families and the environment, while avoiding mass gatherings and to also observe social distancing.
“I hope Malaysia will succeed in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Before I end my speech, the Queen and I pray that Malaysia and its people will always be blessed and live in peace and harmony,” Sultan Abdullah said.
In his message posted on the Facebook page of the Selangor Royal Office, Sultan Sharafuddin and the Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, reminded Muslims in Selangor and the rest of Malaysia to keep themselves away from “sinful conduct such as spreading slander and fake news that could adversely affect the community during the holy month of Ramadan”.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to urge the Malays to continue to be united, not to have differences and complain against each other to prevent disunity,” said the Ruler.
He added this year’s Hari Raya will be celebrated in a very different atmosphere, which is a time when Muslims the world over were being challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“What is important is that the people must always be united to ensure the pandemic is able to be brought under control and the nation’s economy continues to be strong.
“I would like to remind the people that the usual practice during Hari Raya must be changed by us temporarily in accordance with the new norms,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
The Ruler added the practice of visiting each other and greeting each other with the salam (clasping each other’s hands) were unsuitable at the moment, given the need to avoid the risk of spreading the pandemic.
“The practise of returning to hometowns, which requires crossing state borders, must also be avoided.
“Do not gather or organise open houses, which may result in the possibility of new infection clusters,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
The Ruler said even though the statistics on new Covid-19 infections in Selangor was showing a decrease, the people must not slide into complacency.
“I will continue to pray that Selangor, which we love, and its people, will continue being protected by Allah as a progressive, peaceful and harmonious state, free from calamity, catastrophe and tragedy.”