Beri notis awal, berunding sebelum isytihar cuti khas, kata majikan

The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has urged the government to establish a minimum notice period and consult with the industry before announcing any significant event leave in the future. This comes after the Selangor state government announced a special event leave on September 1st. MEF President Syed Hussain Syed Husman stated that while they do not object to the announcement, further consideration is needed for the operational implications on the private sector.

He noted that for industries operating 24 hours a day, such as retail, logistics, healthcare, and hotels, work schedules and output plans are typically finalized several weeks or months in advance. Additionally, businesses operating on that date will have to bear additional costs including overtime pay, sick leave, and transportation expenses under Section 60D of the Employment Act.

Short notice leaves disrupt employee shifts and supply chain operations, which in turn affects sales targets and international commitments, he added. Both the federal and state governments should consider a reasonable notice period to allow employers to adjust their operations, and also consult with the private sector before announcing any special event leaves.

Selangor Chief Minister Amiruddin Shari announced the special leave on September 1st to celebrate the Selangor Sukma 2026 contingent's success in winning 80 gold medals. The event concluded on August 24th, with Selangor securing 101 gold, 73 silver, and 71 bronze medals. Meanwhile, the Federation of Malaysian Businesses (FMBA) Chairman Raymond Woo expressed concern that an unexpected announcement of a special leave can impact small and medium-sized enterprises' ability to manage operations and cash flow.

The ability of businesses to continue operating depends on their capacity to generate sufficient revenue to cover expenses such as salaries and initial investments. If sales are affected due to operational disruptions, business survival is at risk, directly impacting future employees' livelihoods, he said. Therefore, Woo hopes the government will be more sensitive and understand the realities of business continuity before imposing additional financial burdens on employers.