JOHOR BARU: While Jan 1 is a public holiday in most states in Malaysia, it will be business as usual for people living in four states.
The four states – Johor, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan – have opted not to declare Jan 1 as a public holiday.
This is because these states adhere to traditions and cultures that shape a public holiday schedule different from other states.
Perlis only declared Jan 1 a public holiday on Tuesday (Dec 31) evening.
Celebrations in some smaller towns are modestly observed as part of New Year's Eve festivities.
For example, there are at least two New Year's countdowns in Johor Baru, where one will be held at Sunway Big Box retail park in Iskandar Puteri and another at Dataran MBJB (Johor Baru City Council) here.
In Kelantan and Terengganu, New Year celebrations are not officially recognised, as these states prioritise Islamic religious occasions.
Similarly, Kedah, Johor and Perlis place greater emphasis on religious events and Malay customs.
In fact, weekends in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah fall on Friday and Saturday, allowing residents to perform Friday prayers without hindrance.
Johor has also been observing Friday and Saturday as its weekends, but starting Jan 1, the state will revert its weekends to Saturday and Sunday.
In October this year, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim announced that the state would change its weekends to Saturday and Sunday, starting Jan 1, 2025.
Johor has been observing Friday and Saturday as its official rest days since Jan 1, 2014, as a mark of respect for Friday's significance to Muslims and in recognition of Islam as the state's religion.
The change was implemented following a decree from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in conjunction with his 55th birthday celebration on Nov 23, 2013.
This adjustment marked 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, during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's tenure as Mentri Besar.
