PETALING JAYA: After two years of missing the fun of spending Hari Raya at their hometown, many Muslims are ready to travel back for the occasion, with some having booked their tickets months ago.
Lecturer Hanafi Jumrah, 34, celebrated Hari Raya alone in Penang the last two years.
So when inter-state travel was allowed starting October last year, he wasted no time in booking his tickets.
“The prices were quite cheap then. I always buy tickets early because last minute flight tickets are more expensive,” he said.
His plan is to take two weeks for Hari Raya to make up for lost time.
“Two years ago, I celebrated Raya alone because of the movement control order (MCO) but I still cooked Raya delicacies that are known to Johoreans such as sambal goreng jawa, kuah lodeh and serunding kelapa.
“I am so excited and happy that I am going back to my hometown to celebrate Raya,” he said.
Student Muhammad Luqman Hakim Mahari, 22, said he had bought his bus ticket to Besut, Terengganu, a month ago.
“This year is special because my brother, who lives in Nilai, will be able to come back, too. The past two years, we had a quiet celebration because there were only three siblings out of five, so we couldn’t do much.
“I am really looking forward to Raya this year,” he said.
Luqman initially planned to go back on April 27 but he could only get a ticket on April 30.
“I normally buy my ticket early as I travel to the east coast.”
He was home recently for Ramadan, he said, noting that the Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) was crowded then.
“So I expect the same thing will happen during the Raya period,” he said.
Another student, Siti Nor Hidayah Sahrunizam, 22, said she couldn’t wait to go back to her hometown in Pasir Gudang, Johor, after spending last Hari Raya on campus at the International Islamic University Malaysia in Gombak.
“That was the first time I celebrated Raya away from my family.
“I felt sad but my friends made it a good experience for me. But I still can’t wait to hang out with my family and eat Raya dishes,” said Siti Nor Hidayah, who bought her ticket two days ago.
Qriter Shawaliah Hadir, 33, is hopeful that prices for flight tickets to Tawau, Sabah, would reduce over the next few days.
“I haven’t bought my flight ticket yet because the prices are too expensive. The ticket to Tawau from Kuala Lumpur can go up to RM1,100. I hope the government will monitor this.
“I plan to buy my ticket in the middle of this month. I hope by then the price will be more reasonable,” said Shawaliah, who spent Hari Raya in the Klang Valley the last two years.