Same fix as 2023, please: Indian civil servants ask Putrajaya to add Nov 10 as extra Deepavali day

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 31 — The Indian Civil Servants Association (Imaiyam) in Malaysia has petitioned the government to grant civil servants the opportunity to take unrecorded leave (CTR) on Tuesday, November 10, for Deepavali. This request arises because this year's Deepavali falls on a Sunday, and the following Monday has been designated as a public holiday replacement.

Consequently, the usual CTR day overlaps with the public holiday, preventing Hindu civil servants from fully enjoying their entitlement. Imaiyam chairman Dr Sathiskumar K. Muthusamy explained that the request is not for a new benefit but to ensure that the existing CTR, previously granted by the government, can be effectively utilized.

The government implemented a similar arrangement in 2023, and Imaiaym is confident that the consistent approach will be maintained. The Human Resource Service Circular (MyPPSM) governs the Deepavali CTR, and the Public Service Department (JPA) merely needs to issue a circular letter authorizing the CTR to be transferred to the subsequent working day, as was done in 2023.

The association has also received concerns from its members about the limited time available during the short Deepavali break, especially for civil servants residing far from their hometowns in states like Sabah and Sarawak. Dr Muthusamy highlighted that such a limited timeframe makes it challenging for these individuals to travel back home to celebrate with their families and return to work promptly.

He stressed that fairness should be the guiding principle when considering festive leave for civil servants of all religions and races. If other religious groups face similar overlaps between public or replacement holidays, the same approach should be applied. Since 2018, the Malaysian government has provided one day of CTR for Deepavali, the day after the public holiday, to Hindu civil servants as an additional benefit, providing them with greater flexibility to celebrate with their families.