Johor Ruler to consider findings on changing rest days, says MB

JOHOR BARU: The findings on Johor changing its weekend rest days have been presented to Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, says Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.

He added that he has presented the state government’s findings to the Johor Ruler on Wednesday (August 10) to obtain His Majesty’s consideration.

“God willing, Sultan Ibrahim will make the best consideration for Bangsa Johor,” he said in a Facebook post.

Last Thursday (August 4), Onn Hafiz said the state would soon decide whether it would revamp its weekend rest days, currently being Fridays and Saturdays, following a meeting with relevant stakeholders.

He added that he had chaired the third state government meeting, which discussed the reorganisation of the weekend rest days for Johor.

“The result of these findings and discussions will be presented to Sultan Ibrahim to get His Majesty’s views and consent,” he said.

Onn Hafiz added that among those who attended the meeting were representatives of various sectors such as government, public, education, industrial players including banking and Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).

He said one of the main concerns was the difference in rest days between parents and children, which made it difficult for them to spend time together.

Onn Hafiz also said the decision would involve 576,691 students and more than 1.7 million workers in Johor where the majority of them, or 93%, were in the private sector.

“However, whatever is decided, the level of digitisation in this state will continue to be intensified.

“A state that can operate digitally will make things easier for the people and the economy, regardless of rest days.

“This digital improvement alone can already contribute to the well-being of the people, without the need to go to a physical counter,” he added.

In June, while giving his maiden mandate to government staff and non-governmental organisations, Onn Hafiz said that the state would be reviewing rest days in Johor.

In 2013, Sultan Ibrahim declared the change of the state’s rest days to Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday and it started on Jan 1, 2014.

Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu also have Friday and Saturday as their rest days.