ISKANDAR PUTERI: Starting next year, both the public and private sectors in Johor will be required to allocate a two-hour break for their employees on Fridays, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
The Johor Mentri Besar said this is in line with the state’s weekend shift from the current Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday, which would begin on Jan 1, 2025.
“This is to allow Muslims to perform their Friday prayers. In line with the change, all government departments and agencies in Johor will align with the Federal Government’s schedule.
“To ensure that all Muslims, including those working in the private sector, perform their prayers comfortably, the state has also decided that the private sector should extend their Friday break time from one hour and 30 minutes to two hours,” he said when tabling the Johor Budget 2025 at Kota Iskandar here yesterday.
Surau and halls might also be used at school areas to ensure that male Muslim students perform their Friday prayers, said Onn Hafiz.
He said the state Education Department and Islamic Religious Department would work with the Mufti Department on that matter.
Onn Hafiz expressed confidence that the change in weekend would positively impact the state’s economy without sacrificing the sanctity of the religion.
“The change will also provide families with more quality time to plan their weekend activities together,” he added.
In October, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim decreed that starting Jan 1 next year, the state’s weekend off days would be changed to Saturday and Sunday.
This will end an 11-year period where Friday and Saturday were designated as the official rest days since 2014.
