Malaysia gears up as holidays loom

Malaysia gears up as holidays loom

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Police and rescue teams have begun gearing up for an anticipated surge in road accidents, as schools closed yesterday and thousands of Malaysians start rushing home for family reunions ahead of Chinese and Moslem festivals beginning tomorrow.

In Kuala Lumpur, police expect 1.5 million, or three quarters of the city's population, to depart for home towns and villages by Sunday in the five-day "double festival" holiday stretch.

As with last year, Malaysians are again enjoying a long holiday break as the Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Friday, followed by the Moslem Aidil Fitri celebration, which is expected to fall either on Saturday or Sunday to mark the end of the Ramadhan fasting month.

Schools will be shut for 12 days. Most private companies as well as the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange close from today, while all government departments from tomorrow, and will reopen on Wednesday.