By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, May 27: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday is a mandatory public holiday that must be granted to employees while Gawai Day is an optional holiday.
This is in accordance with a statement issued by Sarawak Labour Department, provided by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala.
The statement stated that the public holidays for the celebration of the Second Day of Gawai and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday in 2025 fall on the same date, which is 2 June 2025.
“According to section 104(1) of the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Chapter 76), the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday is a mandatory public holiday that must be granted to employees and cannot be substituted with another day,” said the statement.
The statement also pointed out that Gawai Day is an optional holiday, granted based on the religion and culture of the employee.
“For employees covered under the Ordinance who are entitled to Gawai holidays, June 3, 2025 shall be designated as a replacement holiday.
“However, this replacement date may be changed to another day through mutual agreement between the employer and employee, in accordance with section 104(2) of the same Ordinance.
“Additionally, section 104(1) of the Ordinance also provides that if any public holiday falls on an employee’s rest day, the next working day shall be treated as the replacement public holiday,” said the statement.
It cited the example that if June 1, 2025 is an employee’s rest day, then June 3, 2025 shall be considered the Gawai holiday, while June 4, 2025 shall be observed as the second day of the Gawai holiday.
Some DayakDaily readers have sought clarification on the announcement of the Sarawak government declaring June 4, 2025 (Wednesday) as an additional public holiday due to the overlap between the second day of Gawai Dayak and the Birthday of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on June 2.
The announcement was issued by the Sarawak Secretary, Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki today.
“It is hereby informed that the Sarawak government has agreed to declare 4 June 2025 (Wednesday) as a public holiday for the Sarawak civil service including Sarawak statutory bodies and Sarawak local authorities in view of the overlapping celebration of Gawai Dayak and the Birthday of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong,” said the notice.
Earlier in May 10, the Sarawak Labour Department, under the Ministry of Human Resources, said in a statement that employees in Sarawak who observe Gawai Dayak are entitled to a replacement holiday on June 3, 2025, following the overlap.
These readers hoped to know if the decision affects the private sector. —DayakDaily
