Hot Weather a Challenge to Fasting Muslims

Hot weather during Ramadan is posing a challenge for Muslims who are fasting.

Seven months’ pregnant Siti Nur Aqilla Omar, 27, said that fasting during pregnancy has been even tougher because of the heat.

“I was diligently fasting for the first few days of Ramadan until my doctor advised me to break the fast to ensure the health of my child.

“This is my first pregnancy and the heat has been quite a test for me,” she said.

Senior construction site supervisor Kamarul Shamsul Zahari, 35, said he has been drinking a lot of water during sahur to face the hot weather as his work required him to be outdoors most of the time.

“It can be very challenging at times, as I have to stand under the scorching sun but I have not let this affect my job,”

“I just drink more water during sahur and after breaking fast in the evening,” he said, adding that his two primary school going children, however, could not bear the heat and sometimes broke their fast earlier than they should.

Teacher P. Megana, 46, said that many of her students had been complaining of the humid weather.

In PETALING JAYA, a man who wished to be known only as Nizam, 27, said the thirst was hard to bear because of the heat.

Nizam, who was with his wife and child at a park to cool down said it was slightly cooler in his home state of Pahang.

Indian national Swaraj Dube, 20, who has been in Malaysia for five years, said people should not head straight to an air-conditioned area to escape the heat.

“I used to do that and fall sick quite often,” he said.

“Now, I stand under a fan to cool down gradually before heading to a colder place,” he said, adding that the humidity was worse than the heat in Malaysia.

“When the heat combines with the humidity, we sweat and feel hot. In India, it can be hot but still bearable because it is not so humid,” he said.

Australian tourists Sarah Khang, 21, and Julia Khang, 18, said they did not mind the heat but the humidity made them feel tired and sweaty.