Twixy

Ramadan 2015 is just a couple days away. How will this affect non-Muslims access to food during regular daytime hours? What other things should non-Muslims be aware about?

I'm mostly asking for the Kuala Lumpur area, although information on other areas is also welcome.

JC3

Hi,

This article gives a good overview of what to expect:

Can I visit Malaysia during Ramadan? | FAQ | Wonderful Malaysia

JC3

bakedbean

Noted that you are in KL and not Penang (where I am).

To be honest, it doesn't impact very much on non-Muslims here. The only thing we've found is that certain services that are provided by Malays....tends to really slow down. Half speed. I remember trying to get something sorted out with TM Streamyx one year, and it really didn't get sorted out till after Ramadan finished.

And I think just have some respect and politeness for those who are fasting. Our cleaning lady is Indonesian muslim. Y'know.... I won't be waving food around while she is here cleaning. Just needs a bit of commonsense.

geedee

O....M.....G!!!

Did you just say
CLEANING LADY???

That's worse than

MAID!!

I'm sure you mean

HELPER

JC3

Who knows? Tonight I've got to look my best, so I’m looking for a cleaner, a domestic help, a household assistant AND an Auntie - 'cause Lulu's back in town!


Where's that careless chambermaid?
Where'd she put my razor blade?
She mislaid it, I'm afraid,
It's gotta be foun'!
Ask her when she cleaned my room
What she did with my perfume;
I just can't lose it,
I've gotta use it,
'Cause Lulu's back in town.
Gotta get my old tuxedo pressed,
Gotta sew a button on my vest,
'Cause tonight I've gotta look my best,
Lulu's back in town.

Lyrics to Lulu's Back in Town
Songwriters: WARREN, HARRY/DUBIN, AL (1935)
Publisher: Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

JC3

bakedbean

Is it? oower.

I thought it was a British thing? We've always had Cleaning Ladies in the UK. Well in fact we did have a Cleaning Man once. Quite a good chap actually until we discovered he was a Jehovah's Witness. Kept leaving little books lying around hehe. He had to go

Anyway that is what dear Anita does. She cleans, bless her.

Davita

If she's Indonesian she's your 'Pembantu Rumah'.

bakedbean

Righto

xizzles

The politically correct euphemism, I believe, is domestic management technician. If you pay them a little more than the current asking, they are then promoted to the title of domiciliary administration executive

kebi

Trying to get back to the topic I have to admit Ramadan effects me. Some of you might know that I moved out of The Peak due to nearby construction noise which lasted legally till 10pm

I moved to Surin well aware that there is the Floating Mosque nearby. I thought is is okay to listen to Azan which calls for the prayers and lasts only a couple of minutes. I actually like it because it is part of Malaysia.

I got a big surprise when Ramadan started.. Now the loud speakers are not only used for the Azan but for the sermons and lectures which can last easily one and an half hours. It is like jumping out of a frying pan into the fire.

I hope it will last only the four weeks till Hari Raya or does someone who lives here has different experiences.

By the way this is a good article written by a Muslim: An Islamic case against loud mosques - The Malaysian Insider

xizzles

OK, back on topic there. Here's another example of how Ramadan affects non-Muslim pupils at a school in Malaysia:

Teacher asked non-Muslim pupils to drink their own urine during Ramadan - and, it's quite telling how the education ministry of Malaysia dismissed the subsequent complaint:

State Education, Transportation and Public Works Committee chairman Tajul Urus Mat Zain said the speech of the primary school senior assistant of student affairs was misconstrued.

bakedbean

Ramadan dates have arrived in the shops...yum yum. At least there is a huge pile of 'em in Tesco today. In fact, there is a smaller pile now as Ms bakedbean has been shopping.

NeonHippy

And in Cold Storage. The promotional Isle that until recently was stocked with a cornucopia of wine including the ever popular Fat Bird is now dry and full of dates. Not a fat bird in sight.

Or has Ms Bakedbean been stocking up in there also?

the troubadour

Never really impacted on me during my years in Malaysia. Anywhere Chinese populated, being all the cities, eating places were open as normal.


It was always rather funny to witness Malay, usually younger people, eating concealed largely in such places, near a back exist or at least high seating, out of sight of religious officials and the like.


Malay folk at home in instances that I knew didn't always strictly observe proceedings. I expect the far northern states of Kalantan and Trengganu would be somewhat different but across the water in Sumatra it was quite grim.

bakedbean

Not guilty. I did see a couple of bottles of Fat Bird lurking on the bottom shelf of the New Zealand Wines section but declined as they were asking 50something ringgits.