JOHOR BARU: Those unhappy with the weekend change in Johor are more than welcome to relocate to other states that still observe the Friday-Saturday weekend.
The Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, said in a Facebook post today that the decision was in line with the wishes of Johoreans to spend more time with their families and children.
Tunku Ismail, who is also the Johor Crown Prince, said the change is expected to coincide with major development projects that will transform the state's economic landscape.
"The return to a Saturday-Sunday weekend caters to the people's desire to dedicate more time to their families, while also generating positive economic effects in line with ongoing development projects in Johor. This will, in turn, benefit the state and its people," Tunku Ismail said.
The decision was made with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, and in consultation with the Johor Islamic Religious Council, the Johor government, and various other agencies.
However, Tunku Ismail noted that certain states will maintain their Friday-Saturday weekend arrangements, and those unhappy with Johor's decision are free to move to these states.
He announced on Oct 7 that Johor will revert to weekend off days on Saturday and Sunday starting Jan 1.
However, certain quarters, including some politicians, had raised concerns, saying that Friday is a holy day in Islam and is highly regarded by Muslims around the world.
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi guaranteed that Johor would preserve the sanctity of Fridays, despite the shift in the state's weekend.
He said adjustments to working hours, especially on Fridays, would ensure that Muslims have enough time to fulfil their religious obligations.