Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim performed Hari Raya Aidiladha prayers on May 31, 2026, at Masjid Putra in Putrajaya with over 10,000 worshippers attending, accompanied by his wife Wan Azizah. The sermon stressed that sacrifice requires sincerity, obedience to Allah, and charity beyond animal slaughter, as explained by Masjid Putra's grand imam Dr Muhammad Zakuwa Rodzali [1, 2, 3].
Several Malaysian royal figures and state leaders joined Aidiladha prayers at major mosques across the country. Sultan Sharafuddin of Selangor led prayers for more than 15,000 worshippers at Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, contributing 28 cattle for sacrifice. Sultan Al-Aminul Karim of Kedah led prayers for over 2,000 worshippers at Masjid Zahir. Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz of Negeri Sembilan joined 1,500 at Kuala Pilah, while Sultan Nazrin Shah led more than 1,000 worshippers in Pahang [3, 4].
The King and Queen of Malaysia celebrated the festival with family at Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Baru on the same day [4].
Anwar used the occasion to emphasize sacrifice and social responsibility. Aidiladha messages from him, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, and cabinet ministers stressed humility, unity, and compassion in commemorating the holiday [5, 6, 7, 8]. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said, "May this blessed day bring our hearts closer to love, patience, and sincerity towards one another" [8]. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail urged safe travel for those returning home, saying, "so that our arrival will be joyfully welcomed by our loved ones" [7].
Two days earlier on May 29, Anwar officiated the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2026. He highlighted the public's strong appetite for reading, which he said should extend beyond exams or recognition, adding, "I often emphasise that the love of knowledge should not be born because of examinations, recognition or promises of position alone". The fair featured more than 1,000 stalls [9, 10].
On May 30, Anwar spoke on government cost-cutting measures aimed at reducing ministry spending by at least RM20 billion in Budget 2027. The government has limited overseas trips, reduced delegation sizes, and held trainings at government facilities. He said, "All study visits and similar trips have been cancelled at the federal level. Even for official visits, if a delegation previously consisted of six people, it is now reduced to two." Savings are redirected to welfare programmes such as Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah, which received RM15.5 billion in funding. The budget also allocates RM1 billion to repair tens of thousands of school toilets [9, 11].
Aidiladha 2026 prayers were observed by millions of Muslims worldwide, coinciding with Hajj rites involving animal sacrifices distributed to the poor [12].
