JOHOR BARU: Starting Jan 1 next year, Johor will revert to a Saturday-Sunday weekend, ending an 11-year period where Friday and Saturday were designated as the official days off since 2014.
Johor stands out as the only state in Malaysia where most private sectors, including commercial banks, observe the Saturday-Sunday weekend, while government services follow the Friday-Saturday schedule.
States like Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah observe Friday and Saturday as the weekend for both the government and private sectors.
Although discussions about the shift had been circulating for some time, the official announcement came on Monday through a Facebook statement from Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
“Following consent and blessing from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and after considering the views of the Johor Islamic Religious Council, I would like to announce that starting Jan 1, 2025, Johor’s weekend off days will be changed to Saturday and Sunday,” wrote Tunku Ismail.
He also stated that he had instructed Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and the Johor Mufti to engage in a thorough discussion and study of the matter.
“I hope that the private sector, the government and related parties allow sufficient time and space for Muslim workers to perform Friday prayers accordingly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz said that changing the weekend to Saturday and Sunday will involve about 2.5 million people, including 587,343 school students statewide.
He added the balance of the 1.94mil of the workforce comprises those in the government and private sectors.
“In accordance with the Johor Regent, the state Mufti and I will study the changes of the weekend from all aspects,” he said, adding that they would also study adequate time off to be given for Muslims to carry out their Friday prayers.
Streamlining the weekend, he noted, would also reduce problems when it comes to timing or scheduling between the government and private sector.
“This will also allow for families to spend more time together and also spur cross-border economic activities,” said Onn Hafiz.
In June 2022, while giving his maiden mandate to government staff and non-governmental organisations, Onn Hafiz announced that the state would be reviewing the weekend rest days.On Aug 10 of the same year, the Mentri Besar said that he had presented findings on changing the weekend rest days to Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim, now King of Malaysia.
He said the findings came following meetings with the relevant stakeholders, including the government, public sector, education, banking sector, industry players and the Malaysian Employers Federation.
However, in a statement on Aug 23, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim said that Tuanku will not be rushed into making a decision on a possible change to the Johor weekend.
“I will be taking into account and perusing 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,” His Majesty said in the Facebook post over two years ago.
His Majesty added that the state government could send him any proposal but he would need to consider and peruse each one thoroughly before coming to any decision.
“I will make an announcement when I am completely sure and confident that it will be the best decision for the good of Johor,” Sultan Ibrahim said.
Johor has been observing Friday and Saturday as its official rest days since January 1, 2014, as a mark of respect for Friday’s importance to Muslims and in recognition of Islam as the state’s religion.
The change came following a decree from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim in conjunction with his 55th birthday celebration on November 23, 2013.
The change was a reversion to the state’s original weekend during its 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.
