PETALING JAYA: Malaysians went ahead and celebrated Halloween despite warnings by certain groups.
Many people took the opportunity to host activities for a night of colourful and creepy enjoyment as well as dress up in costumes.
PR executive Jay Ong said that Halloween was “just a huge global costume party.”
“It’s one day in the year that you can dress up as anything you want without getting silly looks or weird questions.”
Accessory designer Harmini Asokumar, 26, will mark the event by attending a friend’s jungle-themed house party.
“Dressing up is fun! We used to do it as kids when playing with friends, we did it for plays back in school.
“We no longer do it as adults and Halloween is the perfect day to relive that little bit of childhood fun,” she said.
Liyana Dizzy, 27, said that Halloween made her think of candy.
“This year I’ll eat some indoors and banish my demons over a good book. Maybe this Halloween, people should ask themselves what they really fear, and whether ranting against costumes and candy will best solve that.
“There’s got to be more worthwhile causes for all that energy,” said the writer, who dressed up as martial arts hero Bruce Lee last year.
Event manager Richard Chua, 39, said: “It is an annual event to dress up in costume without being judged for doing so, dating back to 2004 when cosplay was less well-known.”
The issue of Halloween recently made headlines when the National Fatwa Council issued a ban on Muslims celebraing the holiday, claiming it was against Islamic teachings.
This was echoed by Malay rights group Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma), which claimed that the event was trying to “shake the faith” of Muslims across the globe.
