MB: More studies needed before decision on weekend break

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Further studies must be done by the Johor government before deciding on any change to the present Friday and Saturday weekend, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

“This has been a hot issue among the people of Johor as many parents, especially those working in the private sector, get to spend only one day with their children on the weekend due to the difference in rest days since 2014.

“We have received all kinds of suggestions. There are those who want the weekend to remain on Friday and Saturday so that it will be easier for them to attend Friday prayers. There are also those who want the rest days to be changed back to Saturday and Sunday. There are even those who want a three-day weekend.

“We listen to all these suggestions. However, the matter is still under study at the moment as it involves many stakeholders,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Johor state assembly here yesterday.

“The state government cannot make decisions recklessly. We also need to get the consent of the Johor Ruler for any decision we make,” he said.

On June 14, Onn Hafiz said the state was looking into the possibility of reviewing its rest days after getting public feedback about the difference in rest days between the government and private entities.

In 2013, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar had declared the change in rest days to Friday and Saturday from Saturday and Sunday, which went into effect on Jan 1, 2014.

On another matter, Onn Hafiz said political instability since 2018 was the reason Johor was ignored by the Federal Government.

“For example, the allocation approved for Johor for the second rolling plan of 2022 was RM4.6bil involving 434 projects.

“Although there is an increase in allocation this year, most is to continue existing projects.

“There are only 79 new projects with a total allocation of RM85.5mil or only 2% from the allocation.

“The reality is that the state and the country have become (politically) unstable since the previous general election.

“The solution to issues related to Federal Government allocation is stability,” he said.

During the opening of the state assembly on June 16, Sultan Ibrahim had expressed disappointment with some of the Federal Government’s actions, with some of the decisions seemingly having ignored the state.