Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia will begin observing the month of Ramadan this Thursday.

Malaysia news agency Bernama said that Muslims in the country will begin Ramadan fasting on Thursday (May 17). The Keeper of the Rulers seal Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad announced.

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He said the date for the Ramadan fasting to begin followed a decree by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after receiving the consent of the Malay rulers.

Prior to this, Syed Danial in statement had said the date for sighting of the new moon to determine the start of Ramadan for Muslims in Malaysia had been set for today (May 15), 29 Syaaban 1439 Hijrah in the Islamic calendar.

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The sighting of the new moon was carried out at 29 locations throughout the country.

The Conference of Malay Rulers had agreed that determining the start of Ramadan be based on the rukyah and hisab methods.

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Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs has fixed that the first day of Ramadan 1439H falls on May 17 based on the rukyah and hisab methods.

Over 85 per cent of more than 260 million Indonesian citizens are Muslims.

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