The government today expressed gratitude to Muslims who followed the guidelines when celebrating the first day of Syawal, yesterday.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the COVID-19 pandemic had changed several things including the way Muslims celebrate hari raya.

In addition, Muslims were now accustomed to the new normal when there is no Aidilfitri prayer in the mosques and suraus throughout the country and the culture of visiting one another.

"I want to say thank you to many people who obeyed the (conditional movement control) order until I understood that some people put up signages outside their homes, 'we do not accept guests', and this is happening all over the country.

"Although we are not allowed to attend congregational prayer in mosques and suraus, we cannot receive guests and so on, but that does not mean that hari raya that is being ushered in the new rituals, cannot be celebrated with gratitude and sincerity.

"This time, of course, we can celebrate hari raya fully with our immediate family, our children and grandchildren," he said at a press conference here today.

Thus, Ismail Sabri hoped that compliance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) would have a positive impact, thus ensuring that the country wins in combating the spread of COVID-19.