Fasting likely to start on Oct. 15

MALANG: Minister for Religious Affairs Said Agiel Munawar said on Friday that the differences in the starting date for the Ramadhan fasting month would not occur this year.

The minister said that the likelihood of Muslims having different dates to start the fasting month was small as the two largest Muslim organizations Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama would likely agree on the same date.

"Both organizations will have their meetings to decide the start of the fasting month on Oct. 14. They are likely to decide that the first day of Ramadhan will fall on the following day," he said.

Said said that the government would help persuade the two organizations to agree on the same date. -- Antara