JOHOR BARU: Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar says he will not be rushed into making a decision regarding the changing of the Johor weekend.
He said he would need to consider all the pros and cons of the state government’s proposal to change the state’s weekend back to Saturday and Sunday.
“I will also be taking into account all viewpoints on the matter.
“There is no need for any hullabaloo or politicising of the issue.
“While I deliberate, I want the government to focus on Johor’s economic growth for the benefit of the people,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He added that the state government could send him any proposal, but he would need to consider it thoroughly before coming to any decision.
He requested all parties to stop speculating on the issue or urge him into making a quick announcement.
“I will make an announcement when I am completely sure and confident that it will be the best decision for the good of Johor,” he said.
Sultan Ibrahim changed the state weekend to Friday and Saturday beginning Jan 1, 2014, as a mark of respect for Friday’s importance to Muslims, as well as a nod of recognition to Islam as the state’s religion.The change, was in fact, a reversion to the state’s original weekend that had been in effect since Johor’s days as an Unfederated Malay State.
Johor only switched to a Saturday and Sunday weekend in 1994, when it was implemented during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure as mentri besar.
In recent weeks, there has been much hype about the change of the weekend following a viral message claiming that Johor rest days will be changed to Saturday and Sunday from November.
However, state officials dismissed the message, saying that nothing has been confirmed as Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi had just presented the findings on the changing of the rest days to the Johor Sultan.
The circulated message, in English and Chinese, claimed the state government had confirmed that starting November, all schools and government departments would operate from Monday to Friday, and that rest days would revert to Saturday and Sunday.
On Aug 10, Onn Hafiz said the findings on the changing of the state’s rest days had been presented to Sultan Ibrahim for his consideration.
He added that the findings were compiled following meetings and discussions with relevant stakeholders that included the government, the public, the education sector and various industries, including the banking sector and the Malaysian Employers Federation.
