Hannah Omarjee | homarjee@radioislam.co.za
29 March 2023 | 17:00 CAT
2 min read

Photo Credit: WORDCRAFTBYANNISA

Radio Islam International discussed this week’s Media Lens with Ibrahim Deen. He highlighted Lebanon and the many challenges the country faces, especially regarding daylight saving.

Certain countries find the ‘daylight saving’ phenomenon beneficial. Daylight saving is a synchronised process, with the public being informed about when the clocks will be brought an hour ahead or back. However, Lebanon deals with two time zones, with most citizens unsure of the time of day.

The prime minister, Najib Azmi Mikati, part of a caretaker government, is facing an election. In an attempt to gain favour, Mikati announced last week that the implementation of daylight saving would be postponed to 20 April 2023 to allow for Ramadan. However, some government members did not agree with the decision resulting in government buildings, airlines, and business places all displaying different times, leading to chaos.

Deen elaborated that daylight saving is generally implemented on the last Sunday of the month to ease into the process. However, the decision was reversed on Monday, 27 March 2023, and daylight saving was reinstated. According to Deen, the people of Lebanon have echoed the saying, “The government puts us one hour ahead in time and takes us ten years back in development.”

Listen to the interview on Sabahul Muslim with host Ml. Junaid Kharsany here.