By Kazi Mahmood, IOL South East Asia correspondent

KUALA LUMPUR, November 26 (IslamOnline) - Malaysians and Singaporeans are gearing for great celebrations ending the holy month of Ramadan with the Eid el Fitri falling on December 6, if the moon is not visible two days before.

In Singapore, Eid is already fixed on December 6; a practice that has lasted several years in the tiny Chinese dominated Island where moon sighting is not allowed to decide the day of Eid.

The Malay-Muslim community agreed with the government in the capitalist country that the Eid day should be fixed since a holiday that falls on any odd day is said to disrupt the good running of business in Singapore.

Malaysia will decide on which day to celebrate Eid after officials of the “Pusat Islam” or Islamic Center confirm the sighting of the moon. The first sighting will be done on December 4, IslamOnline was told.

“Due to rainy season, it is almost certain it will be difficult to see the moon at night. Kuala Lumpur and its skyscrapers could make it difficult too,” an observer told IslamOnline during a phone conversation.

Malaysians on the street are already gearing for Eid to be celebrated on December 6 since many of them already made plans to go back to their home town a day or two before the Eid.

Kuala Lumpur will witness a vast movement of busses, cars and vans flowing towards the highways that lead to other states in the country. Trains and planes too will be fully booked for that period, IslamOnline was told by the Keretapi Melayu.

In Malaysia, going back to the home town for Eid is called “Balik Kampung” which means going back to the countryside. Most Malays-Muslims have their folks living in villages around Malaysia.

Muslims in the former capital city, Kuala Lumpur are busy shopping at major shopping complexes looking for bargains before leaving for their home town.

In the villages, families are also busy getting rooms ready for their children to be back from towns, Adila who works in Kuala Lumpur said.

Adila and her husband have already made their purchases and already had their Eid dresses a week before Ramadan started. They will drive in their national car, Proton, to Pahang where their parents live.

“I am too excited waiting for the Eid holidays, the best moments will be when I meet my parents and salaam them for the Eid,” a grinning Adila, who works as secretary in a bank, said.

Eid is celebrated for a month in both Malaysia and Singapore, though in Malaysia the government gives two days public holidays to mark the auspicious event.

In Malaysia celebrating Eid is mostly meeting family members, friends and asking for forgiveness to parents and friends.

In Singapore, the strictness of the regime gives the Muslim only one day off while work resumes on the very next day of the Eid.