Malaysia's 2021 Astronomy Month programme begins Monday

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 9  -- The Malaysia Astronomy Month 2021 programme will be held from today until Sept 7 to raise awareness on astronomy through integrated activities at the national and state levels, said Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) director-general Datuk Abdul Aziz Jusoh.

The activities lined up would be held online through Jakim's official social media, state Mufti departments, observatories or official observation sites, selected mosques throughout the country and the Islamic Training Institute Malaysia (ILIM), he said in a statement today.

The programme, a collaboration between Jakim, the state Mufti departments and Apadilangit  (Universe Awareness Malaysia) held in conjunction with the national-level Ma'al Hijrah 1443H/2021 celebration will be launched virtually today by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri via Jakim's official Facebook page.

Abdul Aziz said the programme was to educate and increase understanding of astronomy among the community as well as to highlight the relevance of studying the cosmos in Islam.

"We hope to expose to the community the method of observation in sighting of the new moon, for the commencement of Ramadan, Syawal and Zulhijjah in Malaysia in particular and the archipelago in general," he said.

Abdul Aziz said member countries of the Informal Meeting of the Religious Ministers of Brunei   Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS) which have areas of cooperation, especially in astronomy, would also be involved in the programme.

The 2021 Astronomy Month celebration will also see the launch of the use of MABIMS new imkannur rukyah criteria (KIR) in the preparation of the Islamic calendar beginning Muharam 1443.

-- BERNAMA