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) is urging the Malaysian government to authorize an extra day of leave for Hindu civil servants on November 10, to coincide with Deepavali, which falls on a Sunday this year. Imaiyam chairman Dr Sathiskumar K. Muthusamy explained that the existing CTR (Cutie Tanpa Rekod) is currently overlapping with the public holiday, preventing Hindu civil servants from fully enjoying the benefit.

He reiterated that the request is not for a new advantage, but to ensure the existing CTR can be fully utilized. Dr Sathiskumar pointed out that the government implemented a similar resolution in 2023. He further stated that JPA only needs to issue a circular letter to enable the CTR to be carried over to the following working day.

The association has also received concerns from members regarding the limited time available during the Deepavali break, especially for those working in distant locations like Sabah and Sarawak. The Imaiyam group emphasized the importance of fairness in treating all civil servants, irrespective of their religious or ethnic background, equally when it comes to festive leave considerations.