DUN Sarawak: Amendment to the Public Sector Bill passed

KUCHING, 13 Oct: The Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) has passed the Public Unemployment Act (Amendment) 2026 to clarify the mechanism of granting substitute leave when public holidays fall on Sunday or coincide with other public holidays.

Deputy Minister in Sarawak's Premier Department (Laws, MA63 and State-Federal Relations), Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali said the amendments were important to ensure that legislation related to public holidays in the state remain clear, practical and in line with current needs.

According to him, the Sarawak General Cuti Order has been in force since 16 December 1946.

"However, changes in the current situation require improvements to deal with situations that are not explicitly provided for under existing law.

"Instead of dealing with the same situation separately whenever it occurs, this Amendment Bill will provide a clear mechanism to deal with the matter", he said while presenting the bill at the DUN Sarawak conference, here today.

He explained, through the amendment, that if a scheduled public holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday will be a substitute public holiday.

If Monday is also a public holiday, the next day will be made as a substitute holiday unless otherwise specified by the Yang di-Pertuan Negeri through notice in the Government Gazette.

Hasidah said that the mechanism allows for automatic substitute leave to come into force under the Ordinance without requiring separate notification in Government Gazette whenever a public holiday extension occurs.

"This step will give greater certainty to the public and improve administrative efficiency as a replacement public holiday will automatically come into force under the law", he said.

According to him, the certainty allows families and communities to plan activities ahead of time, in addition to helping business sectors, employers, schools and government agencies coordinate their operations and affairs.

He also informed that a similar mechanism had been provided at the Federal level through the Freedom Day Act 1951, while Sabah also amended the relevant ordinances to align its constitution.

In addition, the amendments also abolished the no longer relevant Second Schedule and made subsequent amendments to the references to the Schedule in the Ordinance.

"This Amendment Act will basically provide better clarity and improve the efficiency of our public holiday administration, since public holidays are part of the daily calendar of public life", he explained.