ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 21 — The decision to return to weekend rest days of Saturday and Sunday may not happen so soon, said Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman said this was because the proposal requires the consent of Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
“However, the Johor government is currently seeking feedback from all stakeholders on the proposed reversion of rest days.
“At the state government level, there is still no decision yet on the matter as we are still studying and collecting feedback from related parties.
“So, it will not be implemented in the near future,” said Mohd Jafni during a media conference at the Johor state assembly building in Kota Iskandar today.
He was responding to media queries on Johor’s proposed reversion of official rest days that will see the implementation of a two-and-a-half-day weekend, with Friday as a half-day, followed by Saturday and Sunday as the weekend rest days.
The media queries are believed to have been triggered by a Malay Mail report yesterday, quoting sources.
Mohd Jafni, who is also the Bukit Permai assemblyman, explained that a comprehensive study also needs to be done on the proposal.
“Such a decision is also related to His Highness’ (Sultan Ibrahim’s) order. So, of course, his consent is of paramount importance,” he said.
On June 14, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state was looking at the possibility of reviewing its rest days after listening to feedback from the people about the difference in rest days between the government and private bodies.
He said a solution to the matter could be announced soon.
The Johor government has been observing Friday and Saturday as its rest days since January 1, 2014, following a decree from Sultan Ibrahim in conjunction with his 55th birthday celebration on November 23, 2013.
The state monarch was reported to have said that the change was to make it easier for Muslims in the state to attend Friday prayers.
Johor used to observe Friday and Saturday as official weekend rest days before a change in 1994.
