Are you a huge fan of holidays? If you do, you will be delighted to work in Malaysia! Malaysia is one of the top 10 nations across the globe that has the most public holidays. In 2019, Malaysia recorded 50 of public holidays in a calendar year. Of course, not everyone in Malaysia can enjoy all 50 days of public holidays. Some public holidays are only meant for specific states. Most Malaysians only have around 18 public holidays in general.
The Types of Public Holidays in Malaysia
There are three types of public holidays in Malaysia on the whole.
Holiday | Example |
---|---|
Federal (National) Holidays | Malaysia Day, Christmas |
State Holidays | Thaipusam, Gawai Dayak |
Holidays by declaration | Day of Installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Polling Day for the general election |
Employment law for Public Holidays
Everyone who works in Labuan and Peninsular Malaysia is covered by the Employment Act 1955. You will be entitled to paid public holidays on a calendar year. There are 5 mandatory public holidays based on the Employment Act 1955:
- National Day
- Malaysia Day
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday
- Birthday of the ruler or governor of the state (Federal Territory Day in the federal territories)
- Labour Day
The employer has the right to choose from the government announced public holidays for the remaining paid holidays. The employer just needs to inform the employees before the first day of each calendar year. On top of that, all public holidays declared under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 are to be perceived as a paid holiday as well.
For those who work in Sarawak and Sabah, you are protected under the Labour Ordinance. Employees who work in Sarawak can enjoy 16 days of public holidays, with four definite holidays (Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday, National Day, Labour Day, and Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday) while everyone who works in Sabah is entitled to 14 paid public holidays.
Public Holiday Malaysia 2021
Date | Day | Holidays | States |
---|---|---|---|
1 January 2021 | Friday | New Year’s Day | All except Johor, Kelantan, Perlis, Kedah, & Terengganu |
14 January 2021 | Thursday | YDPB Negeri Sembilan’s Birthday | Negeri Sembilan |
28 January 2021 | Thursday | Thaipusam | Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor |
1 February 2021 | Monday | Federal Territory Day | Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya & Labuan |
12 February 2021 | Friday | Chinese New Year | All |
13 February 2021 | Saturday | Chinese New Year Holiday | All |
4 March 2021 | Thursday | Installation of Sultan Terengganu | Terengganu |
11 March 2021 | Thursday | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis & Terengganu |
23 March 2021 | Tuesday | Sultan of Johor’s Birthday | Johor |
2 April 2021 | Friday | Good Friday | Sabah & Sarawak |
13 April 2021 | Tuesday | Awal Ramadan | Johor, Kedah & Melaka |
15 April 2021 | Thursday | Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City | Melaka |
26 April 2021 | Monday | Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday | Terengganu |
29 April 2021 | Thursday | Nuzul Al-Quran | All except Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Melaka, Johor, Sabah & Sarawak |
1 May 2021 | Saturday | Labour Day | All |
13 May 2021 | Thursday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri | All |
14 May 2021 | Friday | Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday | All |
22 May 2021 | Saturday | Hari Hol Pahang | Pahang |
26 May 2021 | Wednesday | Wesak Day | National |
30 May 2021 | Sunday | Harvest Festival | Sabah & Labuan |
31 May 2021 | Monday | Harvest Festival Holiday | Sabah & Labuan |
1 June 2021 | Tuesday | Hari Gawai | Sarawak |
2 June 2021 | Wednesday | Hari Gawai Holiday | Sarawak |
7 June 2021 | Monday | Agong’s Birthday | All |
20 June 2021 | Sunday | Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday | Kedah |
7 July 2021 | Wednesday | Georgetown World Heritage City Day | Penang |
10 July 2021 | Saturday | Penang Governor’s Birthday | Penang |
17 July 2021 | Saturday | Raja Perlis’ Birthday | Perlis |
19 July 2021 | Monday | Arafat Day | Terengganu |
20 July 2021 | Tuesday | Hari Raya Haji | All |
21 July 2021 | Wednesday | Hari Raya Haji Holiday | Perlis, Kelantan, Kedah, & Terengganu |
22 July 2021 | Thursday | Sarawak Day | Sarawak |
30 July 2021 | Friday | Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday | Pahang |
10 August 2021 | Tuesday | Awal Muharram | All |
31 August 2021 | Tuesday | Merdeka Day | All |
13 September 2021 | Monday | Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar | Johor |
16 September 2021 | Thursday | Malaysia Day | All |
2 October 2021 | Saturday | Sabah Governor’s Birthday | Sabah |
8 October 2021 | Friday | Melaka Governor’s Birthday | Melaka |
9 October 2021 | Saturday | Sarawak Governor’s Birthday | Sarawak |
19 October 2021 | Tuesday | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | All |
4 November 2021 | Thursday | Deepavali | All except Sarawak |
5 November 2021 | Friday | Sultan of Perak’s Birthday | Perak |
11 November 2021 | Thursday | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday | Kelantan |
12 November 2021 | Friday | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday Holiday | Kelantan |
11 December 2021 | Saturday | Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday | Selangor |
24 December 2021 | Friday | Christmas Eve | Sabah |
25 December 2021 | Saturday | Christmas | All |
Note: Public holidays dates are preliminary and are subject to change.
Malaysia Public Holiday 2021 FAQs
Yes. Christmas is a public holiday in Malaysia.
If a public holiday falls on Sunday in Malaysia, you will get a replacement day off on Monday.
If you must work on a public holiday, you do get double wages. If you happen to work overtime on the public holiday, kindly noted that you are entitled to triple wages.
Compliant with Malaysia’s Employment Act 1955, you are either entitled to a replacement holiday or one extra day’s salary of the Public Holiday at an ordinary rate of pay if a public holiday falls on your non-working day.
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