M'sian Children Unperturbed Despite Long Hours Of Fasting

By Nani Rahayu Yusof NEW YORK (United States), Aug 9 (Bernama) -- The longer hours of fasting here compared to Malaysia have not bothered children of Malaysian expatriates. For Muhammad Muaz Om Rosman, 7, his brother, Muhammad Abas Om, and their friend, Nazrin Nas Nazari, 12, they had so far not broken their Ramadan fast. The brothers and their friend, who moved to New York with their fathers who took up postings here, had gotten used to fasting for 16 hours despite the summer heat. Muhammad Muaz Om and Muhammad Abas Om's father, Rosman Abu Bakar works as Avon Malaysia analyst executive here since one month ago while Nazrin Nas' father, Col Nazari Abdul Hadi works as defence attaché at the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations Office since 10 months ago. "Due to the long daylight hours, we break our fast at about 8.30pm (local time) unlike in Malaysia between 7pm and 7.30pm," Muhammad Muaz Om told Bernama when met at the weekly breaking of fast hosted by the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations Office here last Friday. Muhammad Muaz and Muhammad Abas resolved to complete 30 days of fasting as they would be rewarded with a bicycle each if they were able to make it. For Nazrin Nas, he has to fast with his family at home due to school holiday. "Sometimes the weather is so hot and I had to stay at home doing some reading or playing computer games and other gadgets. When the weather is good, I play with friends or ride my bike around the house," he said. Muhammad Abbas and Muhammad Muaz's mother, Marina Om Sharom, 35, said her sons grew accustomed to fasting from the third day of Ramadan onwards. For Siti Zahirah Zakaria, 8, and Wan Nur Nadia Wan Nazaruddin, 9, as Ramadan fell during school holiday, they had to help their mother in the kitchen to prepare dishes for the breaking of fast. -- BERNAMA