KUALA LUMPUR – The decision to revert Johor’s weekend to Saturday and Sunday from next year should not be politicised, says Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He stressed that all decisions made are in the best interests of the state and the people of Johor as a whole.
“The state government upholds the decree of the Crown Prince of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, regarding the announcement to change the weekend in Johor to Saturday and Sunday, as made on Monday,” he said.
“In line with that, the state government believes not all matters need to be politicised.
“This matter has been discussed with the state mufti and the Islamic Affairs Executive Committee of Johor, with the understanding that the sanctity of Islam will not be diminished by the fact that Johor will no longer have Fridays off, starting from January 2025.
“God willing, while not neglecting the importance of Friday prayers, the state government is confident that this decision will benefit the people of Johor by allowing them more quality time with their beloved families, as it will facilitate better weekend planning.
“I hope no party will make any further speculation, statements or turn this into a political issue that could disrupt the harmony of Johor,” he said in a statement today.
Last night, Tunku Mahkota Ismail stated that the decision to change Johor’s weekend back to Saturday and Sunday from next year reflects the will of the people to spend more time with their families and children.
Earlier, Tunku Ismail mentioned that those dissatisfied with Johor’s upcoming change to a Saturday-Sunday weekend, effective January 1, 2025, are free to relocate to states that still observe the Friday-Saturday weekend.
The decision, which was announced last, was made in response to the public’s desire for more family time. It is also expected to have a positive economic impact by aligning with ongoing development projects.
“With the consent and blessing of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and the views of the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ), the state government, government agencies, and the people, I decided for Johor to return to having weekends off on Saturday and Sunday,” said Tunku Mahkota Ismail, also known as TMJ, in his Facebook post.
“If anyone is unhappy for personal or political reasons, they are free to move to states still observing the Friday-Saturday weekend,” he added.
The shift back to the Saturday-Sunday weekend is influenced by both social and economic considerations. Experts believe that the change could boost the local economy by allowing businesses to align more easily with national and international markets, which typically operate Monday to Friday.
This decision also reconnects Johor with its weekend practices from 1994 to 2013, when Saturday and Sunday were observed as the official rest days. However, in 2014, the state switched to a Friday-Saturday weekend to honour Friday as the holy day for Muslims. – October 11, 2024