SHAH ALAM, March 28 — Aidilfitri is often linked to the sounds of firecrackers and fireworks, but an expert asserts that this tradition is not true Malay culture.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation research fellow Mohd Faizal Musa said playing with firecrackers is high risk and could affect harmony during the festivities.
He said firecrackers are an external influence that have been normalised in modern celebrations.
“The merriment linked with firecrackers doesn’t reflect the true values of Aidilfitri, which emphasises kinship and harmony,” he told Media Selangor.
The expert, better known by his pen name Faisal Tehrani, said firecrackers were once outlawed in the 1970s, adding that in the classic tune “Selamat Hari Raya” by Saloma, the sound of firecrackers was removed as it was thought to promote their use.
“Firecrackers were outlawed in Singapore, too, and it was recorded in ‘Syair Kampong Gelam Terbakar’ that firecrackers caused the British governors then to panic and make firecrackers illegal.
“This shows that firecrackers are not a compulsory element in celebrating festivities, what more in the context of the Malaysian community which is now more urban and dense,” he added.
He also said firecrackers present serious fire, injury and public disturbance risks, and that merriment centred on noise and explosions not only doesn’t reflect the true meaning of Aidilfitri, but could be wasteful.
Instead, Faizal urged the community to relearn the original values of the celebration by visiting relatives, forgiving one another, and bringing families closer.
As a precaution, he suggested firework use be controlled and only permitted during official events to prevent risk and disturbance to others.
“In dense residential areas, firecrackers aren’t just hazardous, but could cause neighbourhood conflicts.
“It is time we change how we celebrate and not depend on firecrackers, but focus on harmony, togetherness, and humanitarian values,” Faizal added.
Recently, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming ordered his Local Government Department and the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) to review standard operating procedures for temporary firecracker stalls nationwide.
The order came after several fires that erupted at such temporary stalls in locations including Georgetown and Johor Bahru, which resulted in property damage.
