Is it safe to travel to Malaysia during Ramadan?

What’s Malaysia like during Ramadan?

Are things open during Ramadan in Malaysia?

All common questions for people visiting Malaysia during Ramadan, especially if you are not Muslim.

The main concerns are what will be open and whether there are stricter rules during Ramadan and how it will affect non-muslims travelling there on a holiday.

So Triprovider headed to Kuala Lumpur to answer these very questions and guess what? We had a great time!

Before we get to our visit, just a brief outline of Ramadan so you understand what it is and what to expect.

In the Islamic faith or religion, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and usually lasts for 29 to 30 days.

It begins and ends with the appearance of the cresent moon. Because the Muslim calendar differs from the western conventional calendar, the dates change every year.

Ramadan is a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Muslims fast (absolutely no eating or drinking) from dawn until sunset.

The fast helps Muslims “reset” by seeking forgiveness and increasing self-discipline and improvement. It is also a time to focus on what is most important in life and refrain from anything deemed a “sinful” activity.

Muslims should show compassion for others, especially the poor and suffering. Acts of charity are encouraged.

Malaysia is a generally safe country to visit at any time. There is the odd serious crime like in most countries but crime is generally low and restricted to petty crimes.

Triprovider did not find any issues whilst travelling in Malaysia and this applies to night time as well. Having said that, always be cautious in any country because anyone who stands out as a tourist can be targeted.

This is all general advice and there is no reason for any extra precautions just because it is Ramadan.

If anything, Triprovider feel it is better to visit Malaysia during Ramadan because there are less tourists at most attractions and the restaurants and malls are fairly empty during the day.

As Muslims cannot eat or drink during the day, they probably prefer not to go out in the heat if they cannot take any sustenance of any kind.

But night time is a different ball game. Thousands pour out onto the streets and every restaurant is packed with those breaking the fast for the day. Parks are popular as groups of friends pull out a blanket and share a meal into the night. The malls like the Pavilion and in KL are packed to breaking point so unless you love crowds we advise NOT going there and visiting during the day.

You will find many Muslim-run food outlets close across Malaysia during the day, whilst all non-Muslim-run restaurants (including convenience stores and bars) remain open pretty much everywhere and its business as usual. You may find the task of finding food a little harder in the more religiously conservative states of Kelantan, Kedah, Kuala Terengganu and Johor.

The short answer is yes. Non-Muslims are free to eat and drink as normal in public if you wish however in general you will not see many tourists doing this as a mark of respect for Muslims who cannot do so during the day.

The Muslims we spoke to regarding this issue said it wasn’t a problem for them and Ramadan is all about being tolerant and compassionate towards others and their beliefs.

Triprovider advises to be respectful and discreet if you can, (especially in the more religiously conservative states of Kelantan, Kedah, Kuala Terengganu and Johor.), but don’t stress if you can’t and need to drink due to the heat etc.

During Ramadan, special Ramadan markets pop up all over the country where a huge array of delicious food and drink can be bought. Some of the dishes are not widely seen outside of Ramadan so this is a real treat for visitors to see what’s on offer. This in itself can be a reason to visit Malaysia during Ramadan.

Triprovider went to the market at Kampang Baru in KL and one thing you need to do when coming to Malaysia is prepare yourself for the array and amount of food on offer. It is quite overwhelming but in a good way!!

Fried noodles, Grilled chicken and lamb dishes, Murtabak is a local favourite you need to try, Asam Laksa, Doughnuts, Roti John, just Roti by itself, Fish Soup, Meat Skewers, Drink Floats, Cendol (weird local ice dessert, see what you think!!)

Being predominantly Muslim, you won’t see a lot of pork in Malaysia (moreso in Chinese areas) but chicken and lamb is very popular over beef.

Please note at most markets there is nowhere set aside to sit and eat (seating) obviously because they are fasting. In the case of Kampang Baru there was nowhere to eat discreetly so you may want to find a corner somewhere and eat or take the food elsewhere. This is one disadvantage of trying to be respectful in that if you take the food elsewhere there is only so much you can carry and it will be cold by the time you get to a suitable location. But the choice is up to you.

They usually start setting up at noon and get really busy from 4pm onwards when people finish work and head to the markets to buy some dinner after fasting all day. They usually wind down before sunset (8pm) so the stall holders can also enjoy dinner as well.

Hotels and Some restaurants also offer special Ramadan buffets where families come for their evening feast and it is highly popular. The buffet at our hotel was quite extravagant and the place was packed every night.

You will see signs for Hari Raya Aidilfitri (or EID) everywhere marking the end of Ramadan and signalling the start of the biggest celebrations. If lucky enough, you may be invited to join a family for their celebrations and this can be an amazing highlight of your holiday.

Happy holidaying in Malaysia during Ramadan!

Tips for visiting Malaysia during Ramadan

 

1. As mentioned earlier, Non-Muslims are not forbidden to eat or drink during Ramadan daylight hours, but it’s respectful to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during this time.
2. Transportation such as buses and trains are extremely busy during this period as people travel to see their families, especially during Eid  (end of Ramadan). Make sure you pre-book travel as early as possible and keep abreast of current timetables and traffic.
3. You will notice Muslims arriving at restaurants before sunset and sitting patiently until sunset. It is very, very busy during this time so for tourists we suggest either eating earlier or later or booking a table.

 

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