OFFICIAL: Friday And Saturday To Be Johor's Weekend From January 2014
Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar declared on 23 November that the state’s rest days will be on Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday from next year.
By Sadho Ram — 23 Nov 2013, 02:48 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
Consumers May See A Price Increase Due To Johor's Change Of Rest Days
The Johor state government's decision to change its weekend days to Friday and Saturday from the traditional Saturday and Sunday, could lead to higher manpower costs, which could in turn lead to higher prices for consumers, said companies and stakeholders in Singapore.
Vice-president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, said: "The shortcoming is that even if the Johor workforce, economy, banks (are operational) on Sunday, the rest of the surrounding economic centres - Singapore, Kuala Lumpur - are not working that day. So...it's not going to be as effective a workday."
Many foreign companies will shy away if they were to set up offices or factories in the state, as there are effectively only four working days in a week.
themalaysianinsider.com
CCM Requests Time-Off For Christian Workers And Children To Attend Church Services On Sunday
CCM will seek time off for Christians in Johor to fulfil their religious obligations on Sundays following the change of the state’s rest days to Friday and Saturday.
bambooinnovator.com
Employers should give workers sufficient time-off to allow them to perform their religious obligations, said Johor National Integration Unity Department director Rajali Mudin.
malaysiandigest.com
“We will request for time off for both workers and students to attend church services on Sunday,” said CCM general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri.
thestar.com.my
Johor’s ruler has declared the change of the state’s rest days to Friday and Saturday today
Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar has declared the change of the state's rest days to Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday from next year.
The much anticipated decision was announced during the investiture ceremony on Saturday in conjunction with his 55th birthday .
thestar.com.myThe Sultan said that the change of weekend would take effect from Jan 1, 2014
"The decision was made following feedback from various quarters to allow Muslims to perform their religious obligation on Friday in a more peaceful manner" he said in his speech at the event held at Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim in the royal town
themalaysianinsider.com
Speculation has been rife about the change after a state government document was leaked on the internet.
Currently, states such as Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu have put Friday and Saturday as their off days.
This is not the first time Johor has its weekend starting Friday and ending Saturday; the southernmost state last observed the practice in 1994.
Malaysian businesses are worried that they will be affected if Johor is to revert its Saturday-Sunday weekend to Friday-Saturday
The new rest days could affect future investments as it is not in sync with neighbouring Singapore or other states in the west coast of the Malay peninsula.
Among businesses and services that could be affected include banking and international colleges that cater to students from the island republic.
abnxcess.com
Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba) president P. Sivakumar called for a proper study to be conducted before any change is made. He said investments in the state, especially in Iskandar Malaysia, would lose out.“It is not timely for such change in Johor, especially with rapid development and foreign investments taking place here,” he said.
bambooinnovator.com
Johor Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industries deputy president Datuk Loh Liam Hiang said many business owners were concerned over the matter.
“Johor Baru is on its way to becoming an international cosmopolitan city due to Iskandar Malaysia. Such changes to our rest days will take us backwards. Many countries observe Saturday and Sunday as rest days and it will be hard for us to attract foreign investors to come here (if there is a change),” he said.
themalaysianinsider.com