Last-minute holiday announcements bad for business, govt told

Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Syed Hussain Syed Husman has urged the government to consult with businesses and provide them with reasonable notice before announcing special public holidays. Syed Hussain emphasized that while employers support holidays, they expressed concern over the impact of ad hoc announcements on the private sector.

Industries that operate around the clock, such as manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and hospitality, typically plan their staffing and production schedules weeks or months in advance. Businesses operating on a public holiday face additional costs, including overtime pay, shift allowances, and transport expenses. The lack of adequate notice can disrupt shift schedules and supply chain operations, potentially affecting production targets and international delivery commitments.

Syed Hussain recommended that the federal and state governments establish a minimum notice period to allow employers sufficient time to adapt their operations. The Selangor government recently declared September 1 a special holiday following the state's strong performance in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2026. Meanwhile, Raymond Woo, a member of the Federation of Malaysian Business Associations (FMBA) central executive committee, warned that last-minute holiday announcements could strain small and medium-sized enterprises' operations and cash flow.

Woo stressed that businesses' ability to generate revenue to cover costs like salaries and working capital is crucial for their survival. He urged the government to consider the real-world challenges businesses face before imposing further financial burdens on employers.