Deepavali CTR, a recognition of cultural diversity

KUCHING: The decision to provide unrecorded leave (CTR) for Deepavali reflects a commendable commitment to inclusivity and cultural understanding.

Manjeet

President of Pertubuhan Pembangunan Insan Sarawak (PPIS) Manjeet Kaur Sidhu expressed her appreciation on the recent government’s decision to grant unrecorded Deepavali leave for Indian federal civil servants in Sarawak.

“It’s truly heartening to witness the government’s acknowledgment of the cultural diversity within its workforce.

“The decision to provide unrecorded leave for Deepavali reflects a commendable commitment to inclusivity and cultural understanding.

“I’m particularly pleased to see such positive strides toward creating a more harmonious work environment,” she said in a statement on Saturday.

She added that recognising and accommodating religious holidays not only fosters a sense of belonging among employees but also showcases the government’s progressive values.

“Given the relatively small population of Indians in Sarawak, I believe extending this leave to both private and public Indian staff would be a fantastic way to reinforce the government’s dedication to embracing diversity.

“A public holiday for all Indian staff in Sarawak during Deepavali could further enhance the spirit of unity and understanding among different communities.

“Thank you for shedding light on this positive development, and I’m hopeful that we’ll continue to see more initiatives that promote inclusivity and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures in Sarawak,” Manjeet said.

Anthony

Meanwhile, Indian Association Kuching (IAK) president, Anthony Ramanair also echoed the views of Manjeet.

“The circular is quite clear, an Indian civil servant who is a Hindu, working in Sarawak  is eligible to apply for unrecorded leave for Deepavali.

“Sarawak is the only state in Malaysia that has not declared Deepavali as a public holiday yet. After all there are not that many Indians working in the state civil service,” he said.

However, he said this practise of applying CTR goes back a long time ago in the civil service in Sarawak.

Recently, the government agreed to grant CTR in conjunction with the Deepavali festival to federal civil servants of Hindu faith serving in Sarawak with effect from Nov  9, 2023.