Johor’s change to Saturday-Sunday weekend a better fit for families and businesses
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They believe that standardising the weekend will enable better family plans, while businesses anticipate improved cooperation and coordination between the state government and federal agencies operating outside the southern state.
ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN
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JOHOR BAHRU – The shift to a Saturday-Sunday weekend in Johor
They believe that standardising the weekend – it was at one time Saturday and Sunday before it became Friday and Saturday – will enable better family plans, while businesses anticipate improved cooperation and coordination between the state government and federal agencies operating outside the southern state.
Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Ibrahim said on Oct 7 that the weekend will be changed back to Saturday and Sunday from January 2025.
On Jan 1, 2014, Johor had changed its weekend to Friday and Saturday as a mark of respect for Friday’s importance to Muslims and in recognition of Islam as the state’s religion.
Cleaning supervisor S. Srikanth, 48, welcomed the latest news, noting that it would allow him to spend more quality time with his two children aged 11 and five.
“My wife works in Singapore as a factory operator and is usually off on Saturdays and Sundays, and soon I will be as well, since I work in Johor Bahru,” he said.
“Previously, we could spend time with our kids only on Saturdays. It was quite a challenge taking care of them on Fridays when they were home. Now, I’m optimistic that things will improve, with two full days to spend together.
“This change will also help us better organise family gatherings and holidays with relatives outside Johor.”
Senior marketing manager Farrer Tan, 41, said the change would enable her and her husband to spend more quality time with their two children.
“My husband and I work in the private sector, so we could spend only one day with our children because of our differing day offs.
“This change will significantly impact our lives, making it much easier for us to plan our weekends,” she said, expressing joy upon hearing the news.
On the business front, Ms Pan Woon Shien, president of the Young Malaysians Movement in Johor Brevia, said that the weekend change is vital for helping Johor businesses align with international shipping schedules.
“From a logistics standpoint, we can operate our business from Monday to Friday, much like our neighbour Singapore, since global shipping generally functions only on weekdays,” she said.
“The only downside is that government services will no longer be available on Sundays, but I believe that’s manageable. People are more excited about having more family time on Saturdays and Sundays,” she added.
Ms Pan hopes there will be no further weekend adjustments, to enhance investors’ confidence in the state.
Johor Youth Council vice-president Azhar Zainal Abidin stated that the change in the weekend schedule would also benefit youth in Johor.
“The majority of our youth work in Singapore, so this weekend adjustment will give them more time to spend with their families,” he said.
He added that the government should also use the transitional system from now until January 2025 to align the schedules of private-sector businesses and government agencies.
“There shouldn’t be any issues with this adjustment as we’ve done it before.
“It’s important to remember that Johor isn’t like the states on the east coast; our neighbour is Singapore and this change will also impact our economy,” said Mr Azhar.
Mr Ivan Teo, chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (Johor Chapter), noted that changing the weekend is a positive move that could boost local businesses, particularly in the Johor Bahru area.
“With the weekend returning to Saturday and Sunday, we can expect a significant increase in traffic, especially in Johor Bahru, as locals join the Singaporean crowd.
“We should also be prepared for longer waiting times, particularly at restaurants, due to the larger crowds,” he said, expressing hope that the relevant agencies and businesses are ready to manage the situation.
Mr Teo noted that the change could affect hotel occupancy outside Johor Bahru, as many hotels previously benefited from high occupancy rates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when guests followed different weekend schedules.
Mr Abd Latif Bandi, vice-president of the Johor Bumiputera Chambers of Entrepreneurs and Traders, echoed this sentiment, emphasising that business owners should also be ready to increase their workforce.
“For businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises in Johor Bahru, weekends will be their busiest days since we share the same weekend as Singapore.
“I urge business owners to ensure they are fully prepared in terms of manpower, as weekends will be hectic,” he said, also noting the importance of allowing Muslim staff enough time for Friday prayers.
Mr Abd Latif further suggested that the government should deploy more personnel to manage traffic on weekends in Johor Bahru, especially in busy shopping areas like Angsana Johor Bahru Mall and Bandar Baru Uda, where congestion tends to be particularly severe. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
