The government has confirmed public holidays in conjunction with Wesak Day and the official birthday of Sultan Ibrahim, which fall on May 31 and June 1 respectively.
In a statement, the Ministry of Human Resources Malaysia said the King’s official birthday is one of the five compulsory public holidays that must be granted by private sector employers in Peninsular Malaysia, including the Federal Territory of Labuan.
The ministry stressed that under the Employment Act 1955, this particular holiday cannot be substituted with another day.
Meanwhile, Wesak Day is classified as a paid public holiday that employers may select as part of the six paid public holidays required to be given to employees.
It added that if a public holiday falls on a weekly rest day or another designated holiday, the following working day must be observed as a paid replacement holiday.
For employers who designate Sunday as the weekly rest day and include Wesak Day as a public holiday, June 1 (Monday) must be granted as the King’s official birthday holiday, while June 2, 2026 (Tuesday), should be given as a replacement holiday for Wesak Day.
However, the replacement holiday may be substituted with another date upon mutual agreement between employers and employees, in accordance with legal provisions.
The ministry also noted that employees earning RM4,000 and below, or those covered under the First Schedule of the Employment Act 1955, are entitled to additional pay if required to work on a public holiday.
Employers have been reminded to adhere strictly to labour laws to safeguard workers’ welfare and ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
