A Malaysian netizen has sparked discussion online after sharing her thoughts on how sick leave is handled in Malaysia compared to the UK and Australia.
In a post on Threads, she explained that in countries like the UK and Australia, employees can often self-declare sick leave for a few days without visiting a doctor. “No doctor needed, boss just trusts you,” she wrote.
She contrasted this with Malaysia, where even a mild fever often requires employees to wake up early despite feeling unwell, travel to a clinic, and obtain a medical certificate before being “officially” allowed to rest.
The post received mixed reactions from netizens. Some agreed, sharing that they sometimes wait until early morning to visit a clinic to save on fees while securing an MC. Others noted that not all Malaysian workplaces are the same; some allow staff to take sick leave for mental health days without submitting a certificate.
Many agreed that the self-declaration system depends heavily on trust, which may be challenging to implement in Malaysia due to concerns about abuse.
