🇲🇾 Malaysia Public Holidays 2025

Federal Public Holidays 2025

Malaysia observes a rich calendar of public holidays that reflects the country's multicultural society. The federal government gazetted holidays apply nationwide, while each of the 13 states and 3 federal territories adds its own state-level holidays on top of the federal list. In 2025, there are 17 federal public holidays, spanning Islamic, Chinese, Hindu, and Christian celebrations alongside civic milestones.

Below is the complete list of Malaysia federal gazetted public holidays for 2025. Dates for Islamic holidays — including Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, and Awal Muharram — are subject to official moon-sighting confirmation and may shift by one day. Always verify with the official Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) announcement or your state government gazette.

Important: The table below lists the national federal holiday list. Certain holidays marked with state notes are only observed in specific states or federal territories. Employees should check their own state's gazetted list for a complete picture of days off applicable to their workplace.

* This is the federal gazette list. Islamic holiday dates are subject to moon-sighting confirmation and may differ by one day. Always verify with official government sources or your employer's HR department.

State-Specific Holidays

Beyond the federal list, each Malaysian state declares its own public holidays — typically the state ruler's birthday, a state founder's day, or additional religious observances. These are mandatory rest days for employees working within that state and are gazetted separately by state governments. The Employment Act 1955 requires private employers to grant a minimum of 11 gazetted public holidays per year, with five being compulsory: National Day, Malaysia Day, Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday, Labour Day, and Hari Raya Puasa Day 1.

Key examples of state-specific holidays in 2025 include:

• Selangor: Sultan of Selangor's Birthday (11 Dec), Nuzul Al-Quran, and Thaipusam — bringing the total days off in Selangor well above the federal minimum.
• Johor: Sultan of Johor's Birthday (23 Mar), Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar (23 Jan), and Thaipusam — Johor residents enjoy some of the richest state holiday calendars in the country.
• Penang: George Town Heritage Celebration (15 Jul), Thaipusam, and Penang Governor's Birthday — reflecting Penang's distinct cultural and administrative identity.
• Sabah: Sabah Self-Governance Day (31 Aug, separate from Merdeka), Kaamatan Harvest Festival (30–31 May) — Kadazandusun and Murut communities celebrate Kaamatan with vibrant traditional festivities.
• Sarawak: Sarawak Independence Day (22 Jul), Gawai Dayak (1–2 Jun), and Good Friday — Gawai is one of the most culturally significant celebrations in East Malaysia.
• Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu: These states observe a Friday–Saturday weekend, so their holiday calendars and replacement day rules differ significantly from the rest of Malaysia. Employees and businesses in these states should use state-specific references when planning leave.

If you are working across state lines or in a company with multiple offices, it is essential to clarify with HR which state's holiday list governs your leave entitlement. Multinational companies and large conglomerates sometimes apply a unified national holiday list for simplicity, but statutory compliance requires adherence to the state where the employee physically works.

Long Weekends in Malaysia 2025

Strategic leave planning can turn Malaysia's public holidays into extended breaks. Several holidays in 2025 fall on Fridays or Mondays, naturally creating three-day weekends at zero annual leave cost. Others fall mid-week, where a single bridge day can unlock four or five consecutive days off. Here are the best long weekend opportunities in 2025:

The Hari Raya Puasa period is the single biggest travel surge in Malaysia. Book flights, buses, and trains months in advance if you plan to travel during this window. The PLUS highway and major trunk roads see some of the heaviest traffic volumes of the year during the balik kampung exodus. If you are driving interstate, consider departing several days before or after the peak rush to avoid gridlock.

The September cluster is also notable: Merdeka Day (1 Sep substitute), Maulidur Rasul (5 Sep), and Malaysia Day (16 Sep) fall within a three-week span, making September a month where careful leave deployment can yield exceptional rest time with very few leave days consumed.

Tips for Planning Your Leave

Getting the most out of Malaysia's public holiday calendar takes a little planning. Here are practical tips for employees and employers alike to ensure smooth operations while maximising personal rest time:

• Apply leave early for festive periods. Hari Raya Puasa, Chinese New Year, and Deepavali are the most popular times for leave applications. In many offices, leave slots fill up months in advance. Submit your requests as soon as possible after the new year, ideally in January for the full year.
• Check your state holidays. If you work in a state other than where your company is headquartered, confirm which state's public holiday list applies to your workplace. The Employment Act governs this, and your HR department should have clarity. Do not assume your state follows the same list as the national headquarters.
• Bridge days are gold. A single day of annual leave sandwiched between a public holiday and a weekend can yield a 4- or 5-day break — dramatically increasing rest time without spending many leave days. The CNY period in January and the Hari Raya window in March–April offer the best bridging opportunities in 2025.
• Islamic holiday dates may shift. Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Awal Muharram, and Maulidur Rasul follow the Islamic lunar calendar and are confirmed only after official moon sighting. Build flexibility into your travel plans for these dates. Avoid booking non-refundable flights until the official JAKIM announcement.
• Replacement holidays apply. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is typically designated a replacement holiday. This is mandated under Malaysia's Employment Act, 1955. In 2025, Merdeka Day (31 Aug) falls on a Sunday, making Monday 1 September the official replacement holiday.
• Saturday holidays differ by state. In states with a Monday–Friday working week, Saturday holidays do not automatically get a replacement day. However, in states with a Sunday–Thursday working week (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu), Saturday is a workday and holidays falling on Saturday may be replaced. Always check your state's specific rules.
• Plan overseas travel before peak season. Flight prices and hotel rates spike sharply in the two to three weeks surrounding Hari Raya Puasa and Chinese New Year. Travelling a week earlier or later can save significantly — often 30–50% on airfares for popular routes like KL–Bangkok or KL–Bali.
• Use your annual leave entitlement in full. Under the Employment Act, employees with one to two years of service are entitled to at least eight days of annual leave, rising to 12 days after two years and 16 days after five years. Pairing this with public holidays strategically allows for multiple extended breaks throughout the year.