KUCHING: For many Malaysians, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is more than just a festive holiday – it is a time of homecoming, a cherished tradition of ‘balik kampung’.
Families gather, childhood homes fill with laughter, and tables overflow with traditional delicacies.
Yet, for a growing number of people, this tradition is becoming increasingly difficult to uphold.
With travel costs skyrocketing and work commitments tightening, many find themselves unable to ‘balik kampung’.
Reporting executive, 31-year-old Nur Shaykilah, originally from Semporna, Sabah, knows this reality all too well.
“I won’t be going back to my hometown this Raya.
“I just started my job in Kuala Lumpur (KL) and I don’t have any Raya leave.
“Flights from KL to Tawau can cost around RM1,000 or more during the festive season. It’s just too expensive,” she said.
For those living in Peninsular Malaysia but with family in East Malaysia, the high cost of airfare during peak seasons has become a recurring problem.
She recalled how when she lived in Kuching, it was easier and cheaper to visit her family in Semporna frequently.
“Before this, I was staying in Sarawak, but I haven’t lived in Semporna for a very long time.
“However, I used to visit quite often – about once a month or every two months.
“Back then, it was easier and cheaper since I was in Kuching.
“But now that I’m in KL, it’s harder to go back as often because of the higher costs and my work schedule, so I’m planning to go back maybe by September instead,” she said.
What was once a given – returning home to celebrate with loved ones – has now become a privilege that not everyone can afford.
“I love celebrating Raya in my hometown because I get to celebrate it with my family.
“It’s always such a lively and special and the atmosphere is just amazing. It is my dream to be able to go back,” she said.
For some, a compromise is necessary.
Farah Abu Bakar, 47, a housewife and Sarawak kek lapis entrepreneur, has been living in Peninsular Malaysia since 1998.
“I got married in 1997, and in 1998, I moved to Kuala Terengganu with my husband because of his job.
“Later, in 2008, we moved back to Melaka and I have been living in Peninsular Malaysia since 1998,” she said.
She and her family have had to come up with a system to balance celebrations on both sides of the country.
“It’s our family tradition to take turns celebrating in Melaka and Kuching.
“This year, we’re staying in Melaka for the first few days before heading to Kuching on the third day of Raya,” she said.
Despite their best efforts to keep the tradition alive, the cost of travel remains a key concern.
“Some people haven’t been able to return for years due to high expenses.
“But, to me it is very important because Hari Raya is when I get the chance to reunite with family members and relatives whom I haven’t seen in a long time,” she said.
The struggle to return home is even greater for those living abroad.
Dayah Tufail, a cafe owner who has lived in Australia for 17 years, won’t be making the trip this year.
“It’s just too expensive,” she said.
As the years pass, she has come to realise the emotional weight of missing out on family reunions.
“Growing up, Raya was a grand celebration, filled with laughter, food, and stories.
“But as we grow older, everyone builds their own lives, and those gatherings get smaller.
“The longing for that sense of belonging never really goes away,” she said.
She added that Raya has taken on a different meaning as she gets older.
“As I get older, I see more clearly how fleeting time is.
“Life moves fast, and the people we assume will always be around eventually become memories.
“That realisation makes me want to be more intentional about spending time with those who truly matter,” she said.
Though traditions evolve, she reminisced how Raya used to be a time of joyous reunions, where the entire family gathered under one roof, filling the house with laughter and the aroma of traditional dishes.
“Over the years, as everyone built their own lives and responsibilities took over, those gatherings became smaller, and some traditions faded.
“Even if the celebrations change, the essence of it remains: Raya is about connection, reflection, and gratitude,” she said.
The increasing cost of living has left many wonder if anything can be done to help more people return home for Raya.
“Affordable travel costs and having leave for those who are working would make a huge difference,” said Shaykilah.
Dayah echoed the same sentiment, emphasising the need for cheaper, direct flights.
“Transportation costs are high, and work schedules don’t always align well enough to make the trip feasible,” she said.
While airlines add more flights during festive seasons, this may not be a sustainable solution.
Some have proposed solutions such as government-subsidised travel for festive periods, additional public holidays to allow longer visits, or special discounts for families returning home for Raya.
For many, Hari Raya will always be about connection, reflection, and gratitude.
But, until travel becomes more accessible, some family reunions will have to wait – perhaps for another year, another Raya.
