Wong urges early notice on public holiday changes

THE Sarawak government should announce changes to public holidays sufficiently in advance to give employers and workers time to prepare, particularly in adjusting work schedules, staffing and payroll arrangements, says Bawang Assan assemblyman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh.

Wong said flexibility in amending public holidays is necessary, but adequate notice would help prevent uncertainty among employers and employees.

“While flexibility is necessary, I urge the government to announce any changes sufficiently in advance,” he said when debating in support of the Public Holidays (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.

He pointed out that small and medium-sized enterprises, in particular, needed sufficient time to make the necessary operational adjustments, while workers must clearly understand their holiday entitlements under the applicable labour laws.

Wong said he supported the Bill’s overall objective of simplifying and clarifying the existing law governing public holidays in Sarawak, but stressed that the amendments should not create uncertainty or unintentionally affect existing entitlements.

On substitute holidays, he welcomed the provision that a public holiday falling on a Sunday would be observed on the following Monday.

If Monday is already a public holiday, the following day would be observed instead, unless otherwise directed by the Head of State. .

However, he sought clarification from the Minister on how the arrangement would apply when several public holidays fell consecutively, to ensure employers and employees could plan accordingly.

Wong also called for assurance that the proposed deletion of the Second Schedule would not inadvertently affect any existing public holidays or statutory entitlements.

He noted that the amendment sought to simplify the Ordinance by removing the Second Schedule and retaining only one Schedule.

Wong reiterated his support for the Bill in principle, while urging the government to clarify the implications of deleting the Second Schedule, ensure consistent application of substitute holidays and provide adequate notice of any changes.