Federal Territory workers enjoy extended break as Thaipusam, FT Day fall on same Sunday in February
EMPLOYEES in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan are set to receive two extra days off work after Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day both fall on the same date—Sunday, February 1, 2026.
An experienced HR expert and social media influencer has clarified the confusion surrounding these overlapping public holidays and explained workers’ entitlements under Malaysian employment law.
Ku Sim Ling, known on TikTok as @professionalbimbo or “Aunty HR,” explained that when public holidays fall on weekly rest days, employees are legally entitled to replacement leave on subsequent working days.
“Malaysian labour law, which has been in effect since 1955, stipulates that when a public holiday falls on a rest day, replacement leave must be granted,” she explained in her social media post.
For this particular scenario, both Monday and Tuesday following the Sunday public holidays will serve as replacement off days for Federal Territory workers.
“Employees will only return to work on Wednesday,” Ku clarified.
The HR specialist detailed that workers in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya will receive Monday and Tuesday as substitute holidays to compensate for both Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day falling on the weekend.
For those required to work during these periods, different pay rates apply depending on the day.
“If employees must work on Sunday, they should be compensated at the rest day rate. For those working on Monday and Tuesday, payment must be made according to public holiday rates,” she explained.
The coinciding holidays mean that Federal Territory workers will enjoy an exceptionally long weekend break during that period in early February.
The explanation extends from Saturday, January 31 through Tuesday, February 3, giving workers a four-day consecutive break before returning to work on Wednesday, February 4.
Ku’s social media post garnered significant attention, with numerous users expressing relief after gaining a clearer understanding of their replacement leave entitlements under national employment legislation.
Many workers had been uncertain about their rights when multiple public holidays coincide with rest days, making the clarification particularly valuable for planning purposes.
This situation highlights the importance of workers understanding their statutory entitlements under the Employment Act 1955, which protects employees’ rights regarding public holidays and rest days.
The law ensures that workers don’t lose the benefit of public holidays simply because they fall on days when they wouldn’t normally work. The replacement leave mechanism preserves the intent of public holidays—to provide rest and celebration opportunities for all workers.
Employers in the Federal Territories should prepare for the reduced workforce availability during this extended period and plan operations accordingly.
The provision applies specifically to the three Federal Territories—Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan—as Federal Territory Day is observed only in these jurisdictions, while Thaipusam is celebrated more broadly but particularly observed as a public holiday in these areas.
Workers in other states will receive different public holiday arrangements based on their respective state holidays and observances.
