This year, Nuzul Al-Quran falls on 7 March 2026 (Saturday) in Malaysia. It is a national public holiday except for Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak.
Many employees who work a five-day week (Monday to Friday) have been asking:
Since the public holiday falls on Saturday, are we entitled to a replacement day?
Unfortunately, a replacement holiday is not mandatory.
Under the Employment Act 1955, Section 59(1):
“Every employee shall be allowed in each week a rest day of one whole day as may be determined from time to time by the employer, and where an employee is allowed more than one rest day in a week the last of such rest days shall be the rest day for the purposes of this Part…”
In simple terms, only the official rest day is recognised for replacement purposes.
The law states that if a public holiday falls on a rest day, i.e. the 7th day of your work week only, it must be replaced. If Saturday is not your designated rest day, then there is no automatic entitlement to a replacement.
If a company chooses to declare an additional day off (many declare Friday), that is an added benefit. That means your company is giving you something above the law.
Hope that clarifies.
xoxoxo, AuntyHR
