KUANTAN: As the holy month of Ramadan nears an end, the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, today reminded Muslims to usher Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations moderately.
He said there was no harm in celebrating victory after going through the challenge of fasting during the month of Ramadan but these people have to be prudent in their spending.
Getting into debts and borrowing just for the sake of creating excitement for Syawal, Tengku Hassanal said, is not a wise move.
"Be prudent and moderate without overspending, as the happiness of ushering Syawal is not about how much we spend (money) but it is about how we foster a close bond with our family members, neighbours, relatives and our visitors.
"Celebrate them in our own way in a moderate manner but filled with gratitude and usher the day with good practices.
"Take care of your health and safety throughout Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and for those travelling back to their hometowns, be extra cautious while on the road," he said in his decree at the breaking of fast ceremony at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) mosque in Gambang today.
Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir and UMPSA vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Ts Dr Yuserrie Zainuddin.
Meanwhile, Tengku Hassanal, who is also the UMPSA Pro-Chancellor, lauded the university for providing free iftar meals daily during Ramadan for all its undergraduates in the Gambang and Pekan campus through Yayasan UMPSA with an allocation of RM250,000.
He said the university had also engaged the community and the needy by hosting breaking of fast events, organising "singgah sahur" (pre-dawn meal) programmes and distributing aid.
Tengku Hassanal said he felt proud when Yayasan UMPSA agreed to distribute RM1.8 million for the university's students welfare and development this year.
"The fund will serve as the catalyst to strengthen the support for the students, ensure their welfare and bolstering academic excellence and skills sustainability.
"I hope the undergraduates will continue to organise programmes with the community and engage them regularly so that both parties will be able to develop strong ties, and provide an opportunity for the university to give back to the community," he said.
Before the breaking of fast event, Tengku Hassanal also witnessed various corporate bodies and agencies handing over aid to UMPSA for the poor and B40 undergraduates.