Public holidays in Malaysia are regulated at both federal and state levels, mainly based on a list of federal holidays observed nationwide plus a few additional holidays observed by each individual state and federal territory. The public holidays are a mix of secular holidays celebrating the nation and its history, and selected traditional holidays of the various ethnic and religious groups that make up the country.
The legislation governing public holidays in Malaysia includes the Holidays Act 1951 (Act 369) in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, the Holidays Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 56) in Sabah and the Public Holidays Ordinance (Sarawak Cap. 8) in Sarawak.
The workweek and weekend varies between states, with most states and federal territories observing a Saturday–Sunday weekend, while Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu observe a Friday–Saturday weekend. Johor previously observed a Friday–Saturday weekend, though many private businesses and banks chose to observe a Saturday–Sunday weekend due to close business ties with Singapore. In states and territories with a Saturday–Sunday weekend, a public holiday that falls on Sunday is substituted by a holiday on Monday, or the next working day if Monday itself is a public holiday. In Kedah, a public holiday that falls on Friday is replaced by Sunday or the next working day, while in Kelantan and Terengganu, a public holiday that falls on Saturday is replaced by Sunday or the next working day.
Starting 1 January 2025, the weekend for Johor changed from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday, ten years after it was changed to Friday-Saturday in 2014.
Overview Federal holidays Federal public holidays are fixed by the federal government and are observed nationwide with some exceptions. They are: Muhammad's Birthday (Maulidur Rasul) Independence Day Chinese New Year (one day in Kelantan and Terengganu, two days in rest of the country) Wesak Day Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday Hari Raya Puasa (Aidilfitri) (two days) Hari Raya Qurban (Aidiladha) (two days in Kelantan and Terengganu, one day in rest of the country) Deepavali (except Sarawak) Christmas Day Labour Day Awal Muharram Malaysia Day
Each state and federal territory observes 14 days of federal holidays, except Sarawak which observes 13 days.
Although the second day of Chinese New Year is not listed as a federal holiday in Kelantan and Terengganu, the holiday is gazetted as a state holiday in both states, effectively making it a nationwide holiday. Additionally, the second day of Hari Raya Qurban is gazetted as a state holiday in Kedah and Perlis.
State holidays In addition to the federal public holidays, each state may gazette a number of state public holidays to be observed in the state. For the federal territories, the Prime Minister is in charge of designating the territorial public holidays to be observed in each federal territory.
In every state, the official birthday of the state ruler or governor is celebrated as a public holiday. In the federal territories, the Federal Territory Day is celebrated instead.
The most widespread state holiday is New Year's Day which is observed in eight states and all three federal territories, followed by Nuzul al-Quran in seven states and all three federal territories, and Thaipusam in five states and two federal territories.
As of 2020, each state and federal territory has designated four to six state public holidays, bringing the total number of (federal and state) public holidays to 20 days in Sabah and Terengganu, 19 days in Labuan, Penang and Sarawak and 18 days in the rest of the country.
Holidays by declaration Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 gives the Prime Minister power to declare any day a public holiday in the whole of Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, or in one of the federal territories, or in one of the states after consultation with the relevant state government. The declared holiday must be observed by all employers as a paid holiday.
Public holidays had been declared on the polling day for a general election, on the day of the installation of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as well as after international sporting events to celebrate the achievements of Malaysian athletes.
At the state level, the state government may declare an occasional holiday (cuti peristiwa) for events such as the installation of the state ruler, after major achievements in sporting events, or even to provide an extra holiday but unable to officially gazette it (such as the annual holiday declaration for Thaipusam in Kedah). Unlike holidays declared under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951, observance of occasional state holidays by private businesses and organizations is voluntary, while government offices and schools (except for nationwide exams) are closed.
In Sabah and Sarawak, the power to declare any day as a public holiday rests with the state governor (in practice, exercised on the advice of the state government) in accordance with the states' respective Holidays Ordinances.
List of public holidays by declaration under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 The table below lists additional holidays that were declared under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Unless otherwise noted, the same days were also declared as holidays by Sabah and Sarawak in accordance to their respective Holidays Ordinances.
Year Date Remarks 2017 24 April (Mon) Day of Installation of the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong 4 September (Mon) Additional holiday in commemoration of the 2017 SEA Games 2018 9 May (Wed) Polling day for the 14th general election 10 & 11 May (Thu & Fri) Additional holidays for the 14th general election (except Sabah and Sarawak) 10 & 13 May (Thu & Sun) 17 & 18 May (Thu & Fri) Additional holidays for the 14th general election (Sarawak only) 2019 30 July (Tue) Day of Installation of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong 2022 18 & 19 November (Fri & Sat) Eve of polling day and polling day for the 15th general election 28 November (Mon) Additional holiday for the 15th general election 2023 21 April (Fri) Additional holiday for Hari Raya Aidilfitri202515 September (Mon)Additional holiday for Malaysia Day
In states and federal territories observing the Saturday—Sunday weekend In states observing the Friday—Saturday weekend
Public holidays falling on the same day For government institutions, there is no automatic replacement holiday when two public holidays fall on the same working day, although the government may designate another day as a public holiday. For private sector employees, if the employer chooses to observe both public holidays, a replacement holiday is given on the next working day, or another day if the employees agree.
Entitlement in employment law In Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, employees whose employment is covered by the Employment Act 1955 are entitled to 11 paid public holidays a year. Five of the holidays are fixed by law: National Day, Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday, birthday of the ruler or governor of the state (Federal Territory Day in the federal territories) where the employee is contracted to work, Labour Day and Malaysia Day. The remaining six paid holidays are chosen by the employer from the gazetted public holidays, with notice provided to employees before the start of each calendar year. In addition, any public holiday declared under Section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951 is to be observed as a paid holiday.
Should an employee be required to work on a paid holiday, the employee may be given another day off (public holidays other than 5 mandatory public holidays), or compensated at two times their ordinary wages in addition to holiday pay. Overtime work done on a paid holiday is to be compensated at three times the hourly rate of pay (or three times the ordinary rate per piece for piece-rated employees).
Public holiday entitlements in Sabah and Sarawak are governed by the Labour Ordinance of the respective states. Both Ordinances have the status of federal law and were extensively amended by the Parliament of Malaysia in 2025 to align most of their provisions with the Employment Act 1955. Employees in Sabah are entitled to 15 paid public holidays a year while those in Sarawak are entitled to 18 days. Both states designate National Day, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday, the State Governor's Birthday, Labour Day, and Malaysia Day as fixed paid holidays, with Sarawak additionally observing Sarawak Independence Day. The provisions on compensation for work done on paid holidays are identical to the Employment Act 1955.
Table of public holidays All holidays are state/territorial public holidays unless otherwise indicated.