While many people are enjoying their long weekend as many companies observe Monday and Tuesday as public holidays, some civil servants might need to change their plans.
The Public Service Department (JPA) has officially announced that there will be no additional holiday on September 17th, even though Prophet Muhammad’s birthday and Malaysia Day fall on the same date this year, September 16th.
In its statement, JPA confirmed that civil servants across the country are required to work as usual on September 17th, with no replacement holiday granted for the overlap.
The department made it clear that, according to the Public Holidays Act 1951, no provision allows for an automatic day off when two public holidays coincide.
Earlier in June, the Cabinet, Constitution, and Government Relations Division of the Prime Minister’s Department announced that this year’s Prophet Muhammad’s birthday would clash with Malaysia Day.
Despite this, the government has decided that civil servants will not receive an additional holiday.
However, private sector employees may be treated differently. The Labor Department explained that private employers are not subject to the same rules.
According to the Malaysian Employers Federation’s recommendations, if companies observe Prophet Muhammad’s birthday as a public holiday, they are obligated to grant employees a replacement holiday.
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