Unplanned Public Holiday On 3 December Unnecessary, Can Cause RM400 Million In Losses

The unplanned public holiday in the Federal Territories is economically and socially disruptive.

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.

This Friday, 3 December, has been declared a public holiday for the Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya) to celebrate Kuala Lumpur Football Club’s (KL City) win against Johor Darul Ta’azim FC (JDT FC) on 30 November.

After a long 32-year drought, KL FC finally won the Malaysia Cup.

While the historic win is a cause for celebration, many Malaysians find the public holiday unnecessary during the current economic times.

The sudden public holiday announcement has potentially derailed many plans such as examination dates, health appointments, business meetings, court appointments and more.

Currently, students across the nation are sitting for their final year exams and the public holiday might delay the exam schedules further.

Waste of time. Can’t figure the daftness of declaring it a holiday. Just beocs of 1 football match. Now have to reschedule all works @IsmailSabri60 honestly!!
— LL2007 (@leen2079) December 1, 2021

Please cancel the holiday! We don’t need it in KL and we’ve got alot of unfinished work and meeting to attend!
— Julian Khoo (@khoo_julian) December 1, 2021

Unnecessary holiday; we got so much things to catch up; business schedule disruption.
— Ng See Eng (@ngseeeng) December 2, 2021

Unplanned holiday is irresponsible and disruptive

Bangi MP and Assistant Political Education Director for the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Dr Ong Kian Ming criticised the Minister of the Federal Territories Shadidan Kassim for declaring the public holiday.

According to Malaysiakini, Ong said the unplanned public holiday may result in a loss output of RM400 million, something Malaysia can’t afford while it’s recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

A netizen said while holidays are always welcome, winning a local tournament does not justify a holiday.

Although I love to have more holiday.
But does it really justify the declare a holiday – KL will a local tournament?
Well, if we win Olympic or World Cup or even SEA games, it fine.
Ain’t our expectation become so low like we pick our leaders?
— Meng Hui Goh (@GohMhgoh164) December 1, 2021

Other netizens also echoed the same sentiment and pointed out several examples abroad.

And it’s not like it’s the Olympics! It’s only interstate .
— Mama (@sitiomar19) December 1, 2021

Great teams menang champions league euro pun tak declare cuti…do no la this attitude of ngong…
— MCO2U (@MCO2U) December 1, 2021

Will London declare a holiday if Crystal Palace won the EPL challenge?
— Etchkay (@Etchkay1) December 2, 2021

A mother wrote to say her daughter in secondary school who’s sitting for her final exam on Friday complained that it was only football.

Yes. Agreed. Even my daughter in secondary school is complaining as she is having her last exam on Friday! You know what she said?

Bodo la. Bola jer pun!
— Suraya Aziz (@Suraya4Aziz) December 1, 2021

Another netizen asked whether it’s a mandatory holiday.

Is it mandatory? There are msg flying around claimed that this is not mandatory, the minister used section 9(2)of the holiday act 1951?
— CS (@steadylu) December 2, 2021

All banks remain open

According to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), BNM and all banks, including branch operations, in Kuala Lumpur remain open and are operating as usual on Friday, 3 December.

Financial market transactions in the foreign exchange, money and over-the-counter (OTC) bond markets will continue to function as usual too.