It’s Thursday afternoon in March. You realize tomorrow is a public holiday. You check your calendar—no meetings, no pressing deadlines—and a thought hits you: “What if I took Monday off too?” Just like that, you’ve set up a 4-day weekend for yourself. Planning around Malaysia public holidays isn’t just about taking time off—it has an impact on maximizing rest, family time, travel, or slowing down in an otherwise hectic work life. And if you lead a team, it also means getting ready to handle leave requests, plan resources, and keep operations running smoothly.
This guide shows you Malaysia’s full public holiday list for 2025 and gives tips on how to enjoy long weekends— regardless of whether you’re an employee planning your next trip or an HR manager trying to handle leave schedules.
Malaysia Public Holiday Calendar 2025 (Federal & Main State Holidays)
Malaysia has both national and state-level holidays. Here’s the confirmed list of federal public holidays for 2025:
* Note: Islamic holidays are subject to moon sighting and may change.
The Long Weekend Cheat Sheet (2025 Edition)
Want to turn your leave days into mini vacations? Here’s how you can maximize Malaysia’s 2025 public holidays:
- Chinese New Year (Feb 10–11 Mon–Tue)
Take Feb 12 (Wed) off to get a 5-day weekend.
- Hari Raya Aidilfitri (Mar 31–Apr 1, Mon–Tue)
Request leave for Apr 2–4 (Wed–Fri) to enjoy 9 days off in a row, weekends included.
- Labour Day (May 1, Thu)
Ask for May 2 (Fri) off to have 4 days away from work.
- Agong’s Birthday (Jun 7–9, Sat–Mon)
This weekend has a natural extension.
- Awal Muharram (Jul 6–7, Sun–Mon)
You get two days off.
- National Day (Aug 31–Sep 1 Sun–Mon)
Perfect for local getaways.
For Employers: How Public Holidays Impact Your HR Planning
Public holidays mean more than just red dates on a calendar. For HR teams, they’re peak times for leave requests, overtime calculations, and staff scheduling. If your team still tracks leave manually or juggles spreadsheets now might be the right moment to upgrade your leave management process.
Our article on Why Every Company Should Use E-Leave shows how digital leave systems can help you manage holiday chaos—without the hassle of paperwork. It explores automation, transparency, and smart planning for both SMEs and large organizations.
Tips for Employees: How to Plan Leaves Around Holidays
- Set Dates in Your Calendar Right Away
Jot down the extended weekends. Lots of travel deals and places to stay get booked up fast!
- Coordinate With Your Coworkers
This matters a lot during Chinese New Year and Hari Raya when many staff members ask to take longer breaks. If you deal with clients or work in a small group, plan together to make sure there are enough people around.
- Use Half-Day Leaves Strategically
Sometimes, taking just half a day off before or after a holiday gives you a whole extra day to enjoy.
- Avoid Overlapping
When you’re planning your break, check with HR or look at your company’s e- leave system to see who else is away. This avoids bottlenecks or overworked colleagues.
Fun Fact: Malaysia Ranks Among Countries with Most Public Holidays!
You got that right. Malaysia boasts at least 18 national and regional holidays placing it among nations with the highest number of public holidays worldwide. The exact count though, can differ by state. Here are some examples:
- Kuala Lumpur marks Federal Territory Day on Feb 1.
- Penang celebrates George Town World Heritage Day on July 7.
- Sabah & Sarawak enjoy extra religious and local festivities.
This means if you’re overseeing a multi-state workforce, you need to adjust leave policies based on location.
Pro Tip: Use Software to Keep Track of State Holidays
Businesses operating in multiple Malaysian states often find it challenging to stay on top of state-specific holidays. This is where a leave management software like Info-Tech’s prove useful. Our platform updates:
- Public holidays specific to each state,
- Leave balances,
- And even notifies managers of overlapping requests
Conclusion:
Malaysia public holidays offer more than just time away from work—they give you a chance to unwind and reconnect. For companies, they present opportunities to enhance HR processes, lessen stress related to absences, and maintain a productive and equitable workplace.
Whether you’re planning your ideal long weekend or getting your leave calendar ready for the upcoming year, one thing stands out: Planning ahead matters.
And if you’re still using old-school leave tracking, it might be time to look at smarter options. Because when everyone knows their time off, work becomes less stressful—and more productive.
Check out our newest tools to manage HR & payroll better at Info-Tech Malaysia.