•    HOME   
•    NEWS   
•    BUSINESS   
•    INTERNATIONAL   
•    TECH   
•    SPORTS   
•    LIFE & TIMES   
•    OPINION   
•    MY JAKARTA   
•    BLOGS   
•    EYEWITNESS   

The country’s second-largest Islamic organization announced that the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan would begin on Aug. 1, shifting preparations around the country into high gear.

Muhammadiyah chairman Yunahar Ilyas said in a press conference on Thursday that Ramadan would be just 29 days long this year and that the Idul Fitri holiday, which marks the end of the month, would fall on Aug. 30.

Spokesman Nurdhi Antoro said Muhammadiyah determined the date astrologically while Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s largest Muslim organization, considered the moon’s position.

“Everybody is free to express their opinion, I don’t mind that,” said senior NU figure Salahuddin Wahid. “Everyone has their own calculation, we just need to respect each other.”

To accommodate an estimated 2.5 million passengers traveling to and from their hometowns at the end of the month, state railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia has announced that an additional 26 trains will be operating during the peak travel period beginning Aug. 25 and running for 18 days.

KAI commercial director Sulistyo Wimbo Hardjito said passengers could start reserving tickets on July 16.

“It can be done through Contact Center 121, agents, online post offices, and Indomaret stores in Java,” he said.

The company expected to sell tickets at the upper end of its price range. Tickets for business and executive trains can cost between Rp 500,000 and Rp 650,000 (between $60 and $75).

“It looks expensive but actually it’s normal for the season,” Wimbo said. “Other modes of transportation will also charge the upper-limit price.”

KAI will not transport motorcycles this year, director of operations Bambang Irawan said.

Joko Gundaryo, head of cooperatives at the city department for small and medium enterprises (KUMKMP), assured the public that the government had enough essential goods to meet the high demand during the fasting month and the Idul Fitri celebrations.

“Goods keep on flowing in, so we’ll make sure it’s enough,” Joko said, adding that there was no need for people to stockpile essentials.

Prices tend to rise around Ramadan and Idul Fitri, and this trend is already evident with eggs experiencing the sharpest increase, going from an average price of Rp 15,000 per kilogram to Rp 18,000.

There have also been shortages of certain essential goods in .

KUMKMP Jakarta division head Irwandi said that operations to sell subsidized essential goods such as cooking oil and rice, primarily for the poor, would start later this week.