"Ramadan in Malaysia is great, this is a Muslim country that has modernized yet the people are still enthusiastic about fasting and recitations as well. It frees oneself from worldly affairs," Norizah Juberi, a teacher of Islam and other subject, told IslamOnline.net.

Clad in her ‘tudung’ (head scarf) and wearing the ‘baju melayu’ - the two-piece traditional Malay dress that covers the entire or body - she said the majority of people, including women, spend time at mosques reciting Qur'an and praying Tarawih.

"Tarawih and Tadarus Qur'an at the ‘surau’ - small mosques in housing areas - are at full wing until late in the night with people eager to practice their Islam.

"Many of them are women, leaving their homes and families at times to pray at these mosques," added Mrs Juberi.

At Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, the residential area where Norizah lives, there are night speeches delivered by popular Muslim scholars from all backgrounds, without any political borders.

With commitment to work unchanged, the female teacher underlined that this Ramadan was not different from others, and that in her institution and among friends and neighbors, there were no political talks for this month.

"Everyone seems involved so deeply in the fasting, the prayers and the recitations, they would only talk of that and on what additional prayers to do," she contended.

"Everyone wants to do their best to have a chance to be praying during the night of Laylat Al-Qadr, which is very important night for all Muslims," added the mother of four children.

"This month I personally do prayers so that Allah may forgive my sins and that I get Laylat Al-Qadr. Certainly I wish to get to go to paradise, Insya Allah.

"I also think this is an opportune time to pray for what one wants in this life, may Allah grant us what we want in terms of good health, easiness in life and to be with the people we want," she added.

Echoing a similar position, another mother of three stressed that : "Politics, we put it aside for now, concentrate on du`aa’, prayers, and how to teach our kids to fast, and pray and observer Ramadan."

"It is interesting to see that many people who normally would not practice Islam with fervor, will do so in Ramadan and this fervor will continue until the month of Hajj,” said the mother who called herself Yati.

Another teacher at a private institution in Kuching, Sarawak, told IOL that the holy fasting month is of particular significance to her.

"I decided to wear the head scarf this month, it was a wish that I made earlier and I did it," said Rozita Othman.

"Though it is the time where all Muslims who can fast will fast, this time around I promised myself a big change in my life and Alhamdulillah it has happened," said a happy Rozita, who is at the University Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS.

Saying that she feels blessed to be fasting, she added that it was a great feeling of security and calmness deep in her heart and soul when she started to wear the scarf.

"I decided to wear the scarf on my own. No one forced me to," she added with pride.

"This is a month where we all seek the blessings of Allah and we have to do something new in our life always when this month comes, Alhamdulillah," contended the female teacher.

Malaysian children too are deeply involved in the prayers and in the fasting, said Mrs Juberi.

"This month we prepared some specific stories, write ups that we handed over to the children at the school, and they are all excited with it.

"We instruct them that the success of Muslims on earth and in aakhirat is to go back to Qur'an and the Sunnah of Rasul Allah (PBUH).

"My own children, those who are of age, they fast and they do the khattam Qur'an. In Malaysia, when children do the khattam, its like a mini wedding, the ceremony can be grandiose," she said.