SHAH ALAM - Employees who have to work on Hari Raya Aidiladha this year are disappointed that are not able to go back to their hometowns.
Operations executive Sabrina Aliya, 25, who works in Ampang said since her company was shorthanded, she will not be returning to her hometown in Penang as she had to work.
"I could not apply for leave for raya this year as there were not enough staff and I did not want to burden my other colleagues who might have to fill in for me if I were on leave.
"However, I will get a replacement leave,” she told Sinar Daily.
She added that it was not her first time having to work during the festivities and her family understood her situation.
"My family would understand. If I could be there, I would and this year is my first time doing qurban (sacrifice of a livestock animal), so it would have been great if I were there,” she said.
Meanwhile, content moderator Nik Khatame, 25, said he had to work on Monday so there was not enough time for him to go back to his hometown since it would be a long journey.
He added that he also did not want to face the heavy traffic.
"I feel like I have a lot of responsibilities and I have to focus more on my work rather than taking a holiday,” he said.
She said it was important to get together with family members during Hari Raya as she did not get to often see them being abroad.
"Apart from going to the mosque for Aidiladha prayers, my Malaysian friends and I would get together to cook and visit each and try our best to create a Hari Raya mood like in Malaysia,” she said.
Asked why she was unable to go back to Malaysia for Hari Raya Aidiladha, she said she would have to plan her journey accordingly as she was working full time.
"The journey back home is far, so I would need to have a proper travel plan since I am working.
"Furthermore, I am actually in the process of waiting for a Residency Visa, so I could not leave the country until it is approved. Hopefully it will be settled by the end of the year,” she said.
She added that she definitely missed celebrating the festivities with her family and friends in Malaysia.
"Nevertheless, I am also grateful that I have close friends who are like family to me and people I can count on which makes it so easy and exciting at times,” she said.