Johor’s Weekend Adjustment To Impact Over 2.5 Million Students And Workers

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- The rescheduling of the weekend to Saturday and Sunday starting from Jan 1 next year in Johor will involve all Johoreans, especially 587,343 students and 1.948 million workers in both the public and private sectors.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said discussions on the adjustment would take into account all aspects, including respect for Friday, which is regarded as the holiest day of the week for Muslims.

"The state government, together with the Johor Mufti and relevant agencies, will detail the appropriate working hours, especially on Fridays, to allow sufficient time for Muslims to perform their Friday prayers," he said in a Facebook post today.

He said the alignment of weekend holidays would also reduce scheduling conflicts between the public and private sectors, allowing more family time and facilitating cross-border activities and business in the state.

Onn Hafiz also expressed his gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, for his consent and approval of the weekend holiday change, and to the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, who instructed him and the Johor Mufti to hold discussions and review the coordination from all angles.

Earlier, Tunku Mahkota Ismail announced that the weekend holiday rescheduling had received the King's consent after considering the views of the Johor State Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ).

Meanwhile, Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah Wee Tse said that the adjustment would strengthen business collaboration and enhance the competitiveness of companies in Johor.

He said it would also facilitate business dealings with external parties, both nationally and internationally.

"I am confident that this implementation will further drive economic growth and accelerate progress, making it the right step to ensure that Johor remains competitive both nationally and globally," he said, adding that he hoped the state government would declare Jan 1 a public holiday to ease business and social matters following the adjustment.

Meanwhile, private sector worker Nur Azura Md Amin, 38, said that planning vacations with her three school-going children would be much easier after the adjustment.

"My children currently have their weekend breaks on Friday and Saturday, so it’s a bit difficult to take them on outings since my husband and I have our days off on Saturday and Sunday.

"This adjustment is very good for families, and it will also make it easier to take my children for health check-ups at the hospital. We’ll have more time together," she told Bernama.

Another private sector worker, Mohamad Faizal Hashim, 35, also welcomed the weekend adjustment.

"My wife and I have different weekend breaks, so planning a trip back to our hometown in Pahang on weekends has been quite difficult. After this, it will be easier for us to travel home or go on vacation," he said.

On Jan 1, 2014, Johor's weekend holiday was changed to Friday and Saturday after receiving the consent of Sultan Ibrahim.

-- BERNAMA