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Public holiday Malaysia 2026 is one of the most searched employment topics in the country — every employee wants to know which days they can rest, and every HR manager and payroll professional needs to know how to calculate holiday pay correctly for employees required to work. Malaysia's public holiday Malaysia 2026 framework includes 11 gazetted national public holidays plus additional state-specific holidays — and the pay rules for working on a public holiday Malaysia 2026 are among the most misapplied provisions in the Employment Act 1955. This complete guide to public holiday Malaysia 2026 provides the full list of all national public holidays, the key state public holidays for each Malaysian state, the exact pay calculation formula under Section 60D of the EA for working on a public holiday Malaysia 2026 (including the 2x and 3x pay scenarios), what happens when a public holiday Malaysia 2026 falls on a rest day, the replacement holiday rules, and what employers must pay for on-call or standby arrangements on public holidays — with worked examples for every scenario.
National Public Holiday Malaysia 2026 — Complete List
Malaysia's 11 national public holiday Malaysia 2026 dates are gazetted by the federal government under the Holidays Act 1951 and apply uniformly across all states. Four additional public holidays may be added by individual states (bringing each state's total to approximately 13–17 days). Below is the complete confirmed and projected public holiday Malaysia 2026 national list:
State Public Holidays Malaysia 2026 — All States
In addition to the 11–16 national public holiday Malaysia 2026 dates, each Malaysian state gazetted additional state-specific public holidays — typically 3–5 days — related to the state ruler's birthday, state day celebrations, and in some states, specific religious observances. Here are the key additional public holiday Malaysia 2026 dates by state:
🏙️ Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya & Labuan (Federal Territories)
- Federal Territory Day — 1 February 2026
- Thaipusam (KL & Putrajaya) — ~3 February 2026
- Israk Mikraj (KL) — varies
- All 11 national public holidays apply
🌊 Selangor
- Sultan of Selangor's Birthday — 11 December 2026 (3rd Friday of December)
- Thaipusam — ~3 February 2026
- Nuzul Al-Quran — varies (Ramadhan)
- Hari Raya Aidiladha (additional day) — varies
- All 11 national public holidays apply
🌺 Penang (Pulau Pinang)
- Penang Governor's Birthday — 2nd Saturday of July
- Penang Day (George Town) — 1 July
- Thaipusam — ~3 February 2026
- Nuzul Al-Quran — varies
- All 11 national public holidays apply
🦁 Johor
- Sultan of Johor's Birthday — 23 January 2026
- Hol of Al-Marhum Sultan Iskandar — 25 January (varies)
- Thaipusam — ~3 February 2026
- Johor does not observe New Year's Day as a public holiday (Friday-first state)
- All applicable national public holidays
🌿 Perak
- Sultan of Perak's Birthday — November (varies)
- Thaipusam — ~3 February 2026
- Israk Mikraj — varies
- Nuzul Al-Quran — varies
- All 11 national public holidays apply
🌴 Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah & Sarawak
- Each state has a Ruler's/Governor's birthday as a state public holiday
- Islamic states (Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis) have Friday as the weekend — different holiday structure
- Sabah and Sarawak have unique state holidays (e.g. Kaamatan — May 30–31 in Sabah; Gawai — June 1–2 in Sarawak)
- State Day celebrations specific to each state
Public Holiday Pay Rules Malaysia 2026 — Section 60D Employment Act
The pay rules for public holiday Malaysia 2026 are set out in Section 60D of the Employment Act 1955. The rules create three distinct scenarios based on whether the employee works and whether the public holiday falls on a working day or rest day:
| Scenario | Pay Entitlement | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Does not work — normal public holiday Malaysia 2026 | Normal daily wages (ORP) — no deduction for not working on the holiday | Section 60D(1), EA 1955 |
| Works on public holiday — within normal working hours | Normal wages for the day PLUS an additional 2 days' ORP as holiday allowance. Effective total: 3× daily ORP | Section 60D(3)(a), EA 1955 |
| Works overtime on public holiday — hours beyond normal daily hours | For the normal hours: 3× ORP (as above). For each overtime hour beyond normal hours: an additional 3× hourly ORP per overtime hour | Section 60D(3)(b), EA 1955 |
| Public holiday Malaysia 2026 falls on a rest day (e.g. Sunday) — employee does NOT work | Employee must be given a replacement public holiday on the following working day. They receive their normal day's pay for that replacement day off. | Section 60D(4), EA 1955 |
| Works when public holiday falls on rest day | Paid as if working on a rest day (Section 60 EA): ½ day ORP additional for first 8 hours; 1 day ORP for hours beyond 8 hours. The public holiday pay and rest day pay formulas combine in this scenario. | Section 60(3) & 60D(4), EA 1955 |
| All calculations are based on the Ordinary Rate of Pay (ORP) = monthly basic salary ÷ 26. Only basic salary is used — allowances, bonuses, and overtime pay are excluded from the ORP base. | ||
How to Calculate Holiday Pay Malaysia 2026 — Worked Examples
When Public Holiday Falls on Rest Day or Off Day Malaysia 2026
One of the most common public holiday Malaysia 2026 questions from both employees and employers is: what happens when a gazetted public holiday falls on a Sunday (rest day) or on a non-working Saturday (off day)? The Employment Act 1955 is clear on this:
| Situation | Rule for 2026 | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Public holiday falls on Sunday (rest day) — Mon–Fri work week | The following Monday is automatically a substitute (replacement) public holiday. The employee receives Monday off with full pay. The Sunday does not create any additional pay entitlement since the employee was not required to work anyway. | Awal Muharram projected Sunday 19 July 2026 → Monday 20 July 2026 becomes the replacement public holiday Malaysia 2026 |
| Public holiday falls on Saturday (off day for 5-day work week) | The following Monday is given as a substitute public holiday Malaysia 2026. The Saturday itself remains an off day — the employee gets the replacement Monday off as the holiday. | Hari Raya Aidilfitri Day 2 projected Saturday 21 March 2026 → Monday 23 March 2026 becomes the replacement public holiday for Mon–Fri employees |
| Public holiday falls on Saturday for 5.5-day (Mon–Sat) work week | Saturday is a working day for these employees — no replacement holiday is automatically due. The employee works the Saturday at public holiday pay rates (3× ORP total) if required to work, or gets the Saturday off as a public holiday if not required. | An employee scheduled to work every Saturday — if Hari Raya Day 2 falls on Saturday, they either get it off (holiday) or work at public holiday pay rates |
| Two consecutive public holidays — one falls on a rest day | The replacement holiday for the rest-day holiday does not override the subsequent working day's status — two replacement holidays would be given if two consecutive public holidays both fall on non-working days, resulting in two replacement working days off. | Rare scenario — usually occurs during Hari Raya when both Day 1 and Day 2 fall on weekend days |
| The replacement public holiday Malaysia 2026 rule applies to employees whose normal work week does not include the day on which the holiday falls. Always check your specific work schedule and employment contract against these rules when a public holiday falls on a non-working day. Source: Section 60D(4), Employment Act 1955. | ||
Public Holiday Payroll Malaysia 2026 — Calculated Correctly Every Month
KC Group's HR payroll outsourcing team automatically applies the correct public holiday Malaysia 2026 pay rates, replacement holiday rules, and state-specific holiday calendars — accurate payroll, every pay cycle.
Employer Obligations on Public Holidays Malaysia 2026
Every Malaysian employer must understand their statutory obligations in relation to public holiday Malaysia 2026 — failure to meet these obligations creates criminal liability under the Employment Act 1955:
- Grant the public holiday with full pay: Every employee under the EA is entitled to a paid day off on each gazetted public holiday Malaysia 2026. An employer who requires an employee to work on a public holiday without the employee's agreement — and without paying the correct public holiday pay — commits an offence under Section 60D of the EA, carrying a fine up to RM10,000 per employee per offence.
- Pay the correct holiday allowance for employees who work on the holiday: If an employee works on a public holiday Malaysia 2026 (with their agreement), the employer must pay the correct Section 60D public holiday rate — 2× ORP extra for normal working hours, and 3× hourly ORP for overtime hours. Underpayment of public holiday allowances is one of JTKSM's most common enforcement findings.
- Provide replacement holiday when public holiday falls on rest day: The employer must ensure that when a public holiday Malaysia 2026 falls on the employee's rest day, a replacement working day is designated as the public holiday — either the following working day (as per the EA) or another mutually agreed working day within 30 days of the original holiday.
- Include public holidays in the written employment contract or employee handbook: Employers should provide employees with a clear list of the company's public holiday Malaysia 2026 calendar — including which national and state public holidays are observed — at the commencement of employment and at the start of each calendar year.
- Maintain accurate records of public holiday attendance and payment: JTKSM audits of employers frequently request payroll records for public holidays to verify correct payment. KC Group's cloud accounting system and payroll outsourcing service maintains full payroll audit trails including holiday pay records.
Public Holiday Payroll Processing Malaysia 2026 — Employer Checklist
For employers processing monthly payroll, public holiday Malaysia 2026 events require specific payroll actions each month a public holiday falls. Here is the monthly payroll checklist:
| Payroll Action | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identify which public holiday Malaysia 2026 dates fall within the payroll month | At the start of each month, flag which national and state public holidays fall within the payroll period. Check the gazetted holiday list for both the state where your office operates and any state where remote employees work. |
| Record which employees worked on each public holiday | From attendance records, identify employees who worked on each public holiday Malaysia 2026 date. Record: whether they worked within normal hours or overtime, how many hours were worked, and whether prior management approval was given for the holiday work. |
| Compute public holiday allowance for each employee who worked | Calculate the additional 2× ORP (for normal hours) and 3× hourly ORP (for overtime hours) for each employee who worked on a public holiday Malaysia 2026. Add this to their monthly payslip as a separate line item labelled "Public Holiday Allowance" or similar. |
| Apply EPF/SOCSO on public holiday allowances | Public holiday allowances paid to employees who work on a public holiday Malaysia 2026 are subject to EPF contributions (they are wages). SOCSO contributions also apply. Ensure your payroll system includes public holiday allowances in the EPF/SOCSO wage base — do not exclude them as "additional payments." |
| Apply PCB/MTD on public holiday allowances | Public holiday allowances are taxable employment income — PCB/MTD must be calculated on total wages including the holiday allowance. Include the public holiday allowance in the monthly PCB computation alongside regular wages. |
| Update leave records for replacement holidays granted | Where a public holiday Malaysia 2026 fell on a rest day and a replacement working day was designated, update each employee's attendance record to show the replacement day as a paid public holiday off. |
| All these payroll steps are managed automatically by KC Group's HR payroll outsourcing service in Malaysia — including state-based holiday calendar configuration, automatic public holiday pay calculation, and EPF/SOCSO/PCB application on all additional allowances. | |
Frequently Asked Questions — Public Holiday Malaysia 2026
How many public holidays are there in Malaysia in 2026?
Malaysia has 11 national gazetted public holidays in 2026 that apply across all states: New Year's Day (1 January), Chinese New Year Days 1 & 2 (~17–18 February), Hari Raya Aidilfitri Days 1 & 2 (~20–21 March), Wesak Day (~22 May), Labour Day (1 May), Hari Raya Aidiladha (~27 May), Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday (1 June — first Monday), Awal Muharram (~19 July), Merdeka Day (31 August), Malaysia Day (16 September), Maulidur Rasul (~12 September), Deepavali (~early November), and Christmas (25 December). Note that this totals more than 11 because Chinese New Year and Hari Raya are each 2 days. Individual states add their own state ruler's birthday and other state-specific public holiday Malaysia 2026 dates, bringing the total to typically 13–17 days depending on the state. Always verify the final confirmed dates against the official Malaysia government gazette as Islamic calendar and Hindu/Buddhist calendar dates may shift by 1–2 days.
How much do I get paid if I work on a public holiday in Malaysia 2026?
Under Section 60D of the Employment Act 1955, if you work on a public holiday Malaysia 2026 within your normal working hours, you receive your normal day's pay PLUS an additional 2× your daily ORP as public holiday allowance — effectively 3× your normal daily ORP in total. For hours worked beyond your normal daily working hours on a public holiday, you receive an additional 3× your hourly ORP for each overtime hour. ORP = monthly basic salary ÷ 26. For example: if your monthly salary is RM3,000 and you work a normal 8-hour day on Labour Day 2026, your additional pay is 2 × (RM3,000 ÷ 26) = 2 × RM115.38 = RM230.77 extra on top of your normal monthly salary for that day.
What happens if a public holiday falls on Sunday in Malaysia 2026?
When a public holiday Malaysia 2026 falls on a Sunday (which is a rest day for Monday–Friday workers), the following Monday is automatically designated as the replacement public holiday Malaysia 2026. The employee gets Monday off with full pay — the Sunday itself does not create any additional pay entitlement since the employee was not required to work on Sunday anyway. For 2026, the Awal Muharram is projected to fall on Sunday 19 July — making Monday 20 July 2026 the replacement public holiday. Similarly, if Maulidur Rasul falls on Saturday 12 September 2026 (which it may), Monday 14 September would be the replacement for Mon–Fri employees. Always verify against the official gazette as variable-date holidays shift annually.
Can my employer force me to work on a public holiday in Malaysia?
Your employer can require you to work on a public holiday Malaysia 2026 in certain circumstances — particularly if your work is in an essential service or if your employment contract includes provisions for working on public holidays. However, if you are required to work on a public holiday Malaysia 2026, your employer must pay you the correct public holiday rate: normal daily wages plus 2× ORP additional allowance for normal working hours, and 3× hourly ORP for any overtime hours worked beyond your normal working day. An employer who requires you to work on a public holiday without the correct compensation commits an offence under Section 60D of the Employment Act 1955, carrying a fine up to RM10,000. You may lodge a complaint with the Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Semenanjung Malaysia (JTKSM) if your employer fails to pay the correct public holiday allowance.
Is Thaipusam a public holiday in all states of Malaysia 2026?
No — Thaipusam is not a national public holiday Malaysia 2026 applicable in all states. It is a state public holiday observed in: Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor. It is not observed in Sabah, Sarawak, Pahang, Melaka, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu. For employees working in states where Thaipusam is a gazetted public holiday Malaysia 2026, all the normal Employment Act rules apply — paid day off, or public holiday pay if required to work. Employers with offices in multiple states must check the applicable holiday calendar for each state separately. The projected Thaipusam 2026 date is approximately 3 February 2026 — verify against the official gazette as the exact date is based on the Hindu calendar.
Final Word: Public Holiday Malaysia 2026 — Rights, Pay & Compliance in One Place
The public holiday Malaysia 2026 framework gives every eligible Malaysian employee the right to rest on gazetted public holidays with full pay — and guarantees them premium pay rates if they are required to work on those days. For employers, correctly administering public holiday Malaysia 2026 — tracking which state holidays apply where, configuring payroll to calculate 2× ORP additional allowances for holiday workers, designating replacement holidays when gazetted dates fall on rest days, and maintaining correct records — is a compliance obligation that JTKSM actively enforces.
The most practical approach for employers with more than 10 staff is a professionally managed payroll system that incorporates the correct public holiday Malaysia 2026 calendar for each operating state, automatically flags when a public holiday falls within a payroll period, and computes the correct additional allowances. This eliminates the risk of underpaying employees — which creates enforcement liability — and overpaying — which inflates payroll costs unnecessarily.
Public Holiday Malaysia 2026 Payroll — Handled Correctly by KC Group
KC Group · State-Based Holiday Calendar Setup · Section 60D Pay Calculation · Replacement Holiday Administration · Monthly Payroll Processing · JTKSM Compliance Documentation
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