“With the consent of the rulers, I hereby declare that the date for Hari Raya Aidilfitri for the states in Malaysia has been set for Saturday, April 22, 2023,” he said in a televised broadcast.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had on Tuesday declared Friday and Monday as public holidays.

Anwar had also announced four days of toll exemptions in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri. This exemption will cover 33 highways and all vehicle classes.

Anwar said that police would be offering a special RM50 fine for all traffic summonses for a month, beginning from tomorrow, for offences committed last year and earlier. This offer does not cover cases being heard in court.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Muslims in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand will also celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri on Saturday.

In Singapore, Mufti Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, in an announcement on the Islamic Religious Council’s (MUIS) website today, said: “According to astronomical calculations, the crescent (moon) for the month of Syawal did not appear this evening after sunset. This signifies that tomorrow will be the end of 30 days of Ramadan.

“As such, I am pleased to announce that the first day of Syawal or Hari Raya Aidilfitri for year 1444H falls on Saturday, April 22, 2023.”

In Jakarta, religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said Aidilfitri will be on Saturday as “the crescent for the month of Syawal at Maghrib in Indonesia has not met the criteria”.

The minister was referring to the criteria set by the ministers for religion of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, based on an agreement in 2021.

It is used officially for the determination of the beginning of the Hijri month on the official government calendar.

In Thailand, Sheikhul Islam of Thailand Aziz Phitakkumpon also declared Saturday as the first day of Aidilfitri in the country, after it had been confirmed that the new crescent moon had not been sighted.