KUALA LUMPUR – Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has called upon the government to reward the KL football team with cash incentives instead of declaring a public holiday at the eleventh hour.
She said that while it wasn’t inappropriate to offer gifts to the participants involved, announcing public holidays out of the blue greatly disrupts the daily routine of Malaysians.
If you want to offer RM1mil to each individual, fine, but don’t proclaim a public holiday the very next day. Not everyone is a football fan or needs a day off.
This has caused schools to close even as students are preparing for their exams.
Kok added that the government should have consulted various parties before making the announcement.
Her remarks were echoed by G25 Malaysia, who urged the government to put a stop to declaring unscheduled public holidays.
“Not everyone welcomes surprises, pleasant or otherwise. It is disruptive to businesses, banks, schools and hospitals,” it said in a statement yesterday (Dec 3).
On Tuesday (Dec 2), KL City FC stunned the favorites Johor Darul Ta’zim with a 2-0 victory during the Malaysia Cup finals at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, ending their 32-year trophy drought.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim defended his decision to declare a public holiday in conjunction with the win, claiming that he was “pressured” by his constituents into doing so.
Cover image via The Edge Marketers
Editor: Sarah Yeoh
