Public Holidays Ordinance amendment improves transparency and certainty

INCORPORATING replacement arrangements into the Public Holidays Ordinance will improve transparency and give the public greater certainty when planning their activities.

Bukit Assek assemblyman, Joseph Chieng Jin Ek said the proposed amendment to the Public Holidays Ordinance would strengthen Sarawak’s legislative framework while ensuring the arrangements remained appropriate to the state’s circumstances, traditions and needs.

“I welcome Sarawak’s move to strengthen its legislative framework while ensuring that the arrangements remain appropriate to our state’s circumstances, traditions and needs,” he said when debating the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2026, at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.

He said the Public Holidays Ordinance dated back to 1946 and required periodic reviews to address gaps and improve its effectiveness.

Under the proposed amendment, if a scheduled public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed as a public holiday.

If that Monday is already a public holiday, the following day will be observed instead, unless otherwise ordered by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri through a Gazette notification.

Chieng said the amendment would provide a clearer statutory framework and reduce the need for separate notifications whenever overlapping holidays created uncertainty.

He also referred to arrangements in Peninsular Malaysia under Section 3 of the Holidays Act 1951, which provides for replacement holidays when a public holiday falls on a weekly holiday and the following day is already a public holiday.

Chieng said the proposed amendment offered three practical benefits, including greater certainty for workers and families planning gatherings, travel and personal commitments.

It would also help businesses and employers plan staffing, operating hours, deliveries and production schedules while reducing last-minute adjustments.

Schools, government departments and public agencies would benefit from simpler coordination of calendars, administrative arrangements and public services.

He noted that the Bill allowed the Minister to appoint its commencement date through a Gazette notification and permitted different provisions to come into force on different dates.

“I trust that the government will ensure a smooth implementation process and provide the necessary guidance to relevant agencies and the public,” he said.

He also noted that the explanatory statement indicated that the amendment would not involve additional government expenditure.

“I welcome this, while trusting that the relevant agencies will be adequately prepared to implement the changes effectively,” he said.