DUN Sarawak: Amendments to the Ordinance on Public Procurement, a progressive legislative package

KUCHING, 13 Oct: The Public Holidays Ordinance (Amendment) Bill 2026 is described as a progressive step in encapsulating the legislative framework related to public holidays in Sarawak.

The Eleventh State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) Member, Datuk Nicholas Kudi Jantai, said the amendment was timely to modernize the Ordinance that has been in force since 1958 to be more clear, practical and aligned with current needs.

According to him, although the amendment is seen as small from a legislative standpoint, it has a huge impact on the daily lives of people, especially workers and families in rural areas.

"A public holiday is not just a date on the calendar because behind every vacation, there are workers waiting to rest, children waiting to go home long hours.

"There are parents waiting to get together with the family", he said while addressing the bill in Sarawak's State Legislative Assembly (DUN).

Commenting further, he said the amendments to Section 3 through Chapter 2 clarify the general day off rules when a public holiday listed in Schedule falls on Sunday.

By that provision, the following Monday shall be observed as a day of general release.

"If Monday is also a public holiday, the following Tuesday will be a public holiday unless otherwise ordered by the State Elder through news", he explained.

The clearer allocation, he said, could reduce confusion, help employers plan operations more systematically and give workers certainty about general strike dates.

In the meantime, he also supported Chapters 3, 4 and 5 which aimed to package the structure of the Ordinance in question, including amending the title of the First Schedule to the Schedule as well as abolishing the Second Schedule.

Nicholas stressed that the modernisation of the Ordinance is essential to ensure that provisions relating to public holidays remain relevant to the administrative and welfare needs of the people of Sarawak. - TVS