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Pahang business operators prefer Saturday, Sunday weekend

KUANTAN: The business community is unlikely to support a Pas proposal for Pahang to have a Friday and Saturday weekend.

For them, it is more practical to keep the traditional Saturday and Sunday weekend.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia Pahang chapter chairman Tan Sri Lam Kam Sang said business operators, including export and trade companies, would be affected if the switch was made.

He said major changes would have to be made and various parties, including those overseas, would be impacted by the changes.

“Since Pahang is close to the Klang Valley, which observes Saturday and Sunday as the weekend, it has been easy for us to do business,” he told the New Straits Times today.

“As far as the business community is concerned, it will be difficult as we will have to do a lot of rescheduling and coordination.

“How about the international industrial companies operating in Gebeng and other private firms in the state... will they be in favour of such a move. We must consider the fact that this might effect foreign investments.”

A hotel operator who declined to be named said putting the proposal into practice might impact the tourism industry.

“Currently, we see an increase in the number of visitors to the state capital between Friday and Sunday. But, if the weekend is changed then people might reconsider their trips here unless there is a long weekend break.”

Pahang Tamil Youth Bell Club president M.Thiagaselan said there was no need for such a change as the people ofPahang were used to the current Saturday-Sunday weekend.

He said if the weekend was on Friday and Saturday, plans for family activities, including traveling or visiting relatives, especially in states that observed Saturday and Sunday as weekends, would be jeopardised.

“Everybody is comfortable with having the weekend on Saturday and Sunday. So, why is there a need to change it.

“Many national-level recreational events and programmes are held on Sunday, so there are a lot of things that require consideration.”

Pahang Pas commissioner Rosli Abdul Jabar had proposed that the weekend be moved to Friday and Saturday at the state assembly sitting on July 25.

He said it would make it more convenient for Muslims to perform Friday prayers as well as protect racial harmony, as it would, for example, do away with the problem of Muslim workers returning to the office late after the prayers.

Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said a thorough study was required before the proposal could be considered.

Pahang Pas deputy commissioner Andansura Rabu said the proposal would not be implemented in the near future as a comprehensive study was required and the views of various quarters had to be considered.

He said Pahang Pas would prepare a proposal and do the necessary work, including getting views from people of all walks of life, before discussing the matter with Tengku Abdullah.

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