JOHOR BARU: Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia (GKMM) president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak has welcomed the move to revert the weekends to Saturday and Sunday in Johor beginning next year.
Fauzi, who is the National and Johor Media Club president, said organising events including state and federal government functions with the private sector was rather dicey in the past.
"While media practitioners in Johor observed Friday and Saturday as the weekly break and the rest Saturday and Sunday, at times it was rather difficult to attract participants as the weekends were not uniform.
"Most of our programmes are held in collaboration with the private sector. They prefer for events to be held on a Sunday, which is a working day for Johoreans. I believe once it reverts in sync with the federal and private sectors it will be easier to coordinate such events," he told the News Straits Times.
The father of two, also said that with the ample time given before the weekends are reverted, it will allow industries, especially the tourism sector, to prepare their programmes in advance.
Meanwhile, Asri Khalbi praised the Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim on the move to observe the weekends which are similar to almost all other countries.
He said the Saturday and Sunday weekends will allow families to better organise their schedule and events, especially for those with family members working at different levels in states, federal or geographical locations.
"It also allows easier planning and execution for the private sector when dealing with the state government and its agencies."
The father of five had worked with the Johor state government and is currently attached to a government-linked company in Kuala Lumpur.
He added that the decision shows strong consideration from the Johor palace and the state government for the wellbeing of the people and setting a good example for the future.
Johor will revert to observing Saturdays and Sundays as weekend off days starting from Jan 1, 2025, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim announced today.
Keywords: Weekend, Saturday, Sunday, Johor, Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, News, Nst, Malaysian News