Employees in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan could be looking at up to two days off in February 2026 as the Federal Government has declared Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day as public holidays falling on Feb 1, 2026.
With the public holidays falling on a Sunday, employees will receive replacement leave on Feb 2 and possibly Feb 3 as well.
However, whether workers actually get two days off depends on two key conditions.
Federal Territory Day is compulsory
In a statement, the Human Resources Ministry clarified that Federal Territory Day is a mandatory public holiday for private sector employers operating in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.
This is in line with Section 60D(1)(a)(iii) of the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) and cannot be replaced.
As Federal Territory Day falls on a Sunday, employers whose weekly rest day is Sunday are required to provide a replacement holiday on the next working day, which is Monday (2 February).
In addition to the Thaipusam public holiday on Feb 1, employees may also be entitled to another day off on Feb 3.
Here’s the catch
The ministry also mentioned that employees will only receive an additional replacement holiday for Thaipusam if the employer has chosen Thaipusam as one of the six optional public holidays under Section 60D(1)(a) of Act 265.
Because both Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day fall on the same day, employers who have selected Thaipusam must grant a replacement holiday on the following working day, Tuesday (3 February).
In short, you will be entitled to two days off if:
- Your office is based in one of the Federal Territories
- Your company recognises Thaipusam as a public holiday
What if employees are required to work?
The ministry added that employers may also provide another paid day off as a replacement, subject to mutual agreement with employees, as allowed under Section 60D(1A) of the Act.
Employees who are instructed to work on a public holiday are entitled to public holiday pay rates, as stipulated under Section 60D(3) of the Employment Act 1955.
The clarification was issued to ensure both employers and employees understand their rights and obligations ahead of the 2026 public holiday calendar.
