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A little planning goes a long way when it comes to annual leave. In 2027, several Malaysia public holidays fall right beside a weekend. As a result, you can enjoy a longer break by taking just one extra day off. However, holiday dates differ from state to state, so it pays to check which ones apply to you before you book anything.
In this guide, you’ll find the full list of Malaysia public holidays in 2027 by state. We also cover the best long weekends and the holiday rules employers need to follow.
Public Holidays in Malaysia in 2027 – Full List by State
Some holidays apply across the whole country. Others, such as Thaipusam or a sultan’s birthday, apply only to certain states or Federal Territories. The 2027 calendar includes big celebrations like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Wesak Day and National Day. Keep in mind that some Islamic holiday dates may change once official announcements are made.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Fri | New Year’s Day | Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Sabah, Sarawak, KL, Labuan, Putrajaya |
| 6 Jan | Wed | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Terengganu |
| 14Jan | Thu | Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan’s Birthday | Negeri Sembilan |
| 22 Jan | Fri | Thaipusam | Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Selangor, KL, Putrajaya |
| 1 Feb | Mon | Federal Territory Day | KL, Labuan, Putrajaya |
| 6 Feb | Sat | Chinese New Year | National |
| 7 Feb | Sun | Chinese New Year Holiday | National |
| 8 Feb | Mon | Awal Ramadan Holiday | Johor, Kedah |
| 20 Feb | Sat | Independence Declaration Day | Melaka |
| 24 Feb | Wed | Nuzul Al-Quran | Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, Terengganu, KL, Labuan, Putrajaya |
| 4 Mar | Thu | Installation of Sultan of Terengganu | Terengganu |
| 10 Mar | Wed | Hari Raya Aidilfitri | National |
| 11 Mar | Thu | Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday | National |
| 12 Mar | Fri | Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday | Melaka |
| 23 Mar | Tue | Sultan of Johor’s Birthday | Johor |
| 26 Mar | Fri | Good Friday | Sabah, Sarawak |
| 30 Mar | Tue | Sabah Governor’s Birthday | Sabah |
| 26 Apr | Mon | Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday | Terengganu |
| 1 May | Sat | Labour Day | National |
| 16 May | Sun | Arafat Day | Kelantan, Terengganu |
| 17 May | Mon | Raja Perlis’ Birthday | Perlis |
| 17 May | Mon | Hari Raya Haji | National |
| 18 May | Tue | Hari Raya Haji Holiday | Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu |
| 20 May | Thu | Wesak Day | National |
| 22 May | Sat | Hari Hol Pahang | Pahang |
| 30 May | Sun | Harvest Festival | Sabah, Labuan |
| 31 May | Mon | Harvest Festival Holiday | Sabah, Labuan |
| 1 Jun | Tue | Hari Gawai | Sarawak |
| 2 Jun | Wed | Hari Gawai Holiday | Sarawak |
| 6 Jun | Sun | Awal Muharam | National |
| 7 Jun | Mon | Agong’s Birthday | National |
| 20 Jun | Sun | Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday | Kedah |
| 7 Jul | Wed | Georgetown World Heritage City Day | Penang |
| 10 Jul | Sat | Penang Governor’s Birthday | Penang |
| 11 Jul | Sun | Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar | Johor |
| 22 Jul | Thu | Sarawak Day | Sarawak |
| 30 Jul | Fri | Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday | Pahang |
| 15 Aug | Sun | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | National |
| 24 Aug | Tue | Melaka Governor’s Birthday | Melaka |
| 31 Aug | Tue | Merdeka Day | National |
| 16 Sep | Thu | Malaysia Day | National |
| 29 Sep | Wed | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday | Kelantan |
| 30 Sep | Thu | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday Holiday | Kelantan |
| 9 Oct | Sat | Sarawak Governor’s Birthday | Sarawak |
| 28 Oct | Thu | Deepavali | All states except Sarawak |
| 5 Nov | Fri | Sultan of Perak’s Birthday | Perak |
| 11 Dec | Sat | Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday | Selangor |
| 24 Dec | Fri | Christmas Eve | Sabah |
| 25 Dec | Sat | Christmas Day | National |
| 26 Dec | Sun | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Terengganu |
Source: Malaysian Employers Federation’s 2027 public holiday calendar and the official government holiday portal.
Please note: State-specific observances and replacement holidays can change the days employees actually get off. For that reason, employers should confirm their state calendar and check current official announcements before finalising schedules.
Long Weekends in Malaysia in 2027
The good news is that 2027 has plenty of long weekends. Many holidays land next to a Saturday or Sunday. Others fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, so a single day of leave gives you a four-day break.
First, a quick rule worth knowing. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next working day usually becomes a replacement holiday. If that day is already a holiday, the replacement moves to the day after. That’s why some of the breaks below are longer than they first appear.
When Are the Long Weekends in 2027?
The dates below assume a Saturday–Sunday weekend.
| Dates | Holiday | Days off | Leave needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–8 Feb | Chinese New Year | 3 days | None (Monday replacement expected) |
| 10–14 Mar | Hari Raya Puasa | 5 days | 1 (Fri, 12 Mar) |
| 15–17 May | Hari Raya Qurban | 3 days | None |
| 20–23 May | Wesak Day | 4 days | 1 (Fri, 21 May) |
| 5–8 Jun | Awal Muharam and Agong’s Birthday | 4 days | None (replacement likely on Tue, 8 Jun) |
| 14–16 Aug | Maulidur Rasul | 3 days | None (Monday replacement) |
| 28–31 Aug | National Day | 4 days | 1 (Mon, 30 Aug) |
| 16–19 Sep | Malaysia Day | 4 days | 1 (Fri, 17 Sep) |
| 28–31 Oct | Deepavali (except Sarawak) | 4 days | 1 (Fri, 29 Oct) |
The standout is Hari Raya Puasa in March. Take just one day off, and you’ll enjoy five days in a row.
State-Specific Long Weekends in 2027
Some long weekends apply only in certain places:
- New Year’s Day (Fri, 1 Jan): a three-day weekend in states such as Selangor, Penang, Perak, Melaka, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak.
- Thaipusam (Fri, 22 Jan): a three-day weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya.
- Good Friday (Fri, 26 Mar): a three-day weekend in Sabah and Sarawak.
- Christmas Eve (Fri, 24 Dec): a three-day weekend in Sabah, running right into Christmas on Saturday.
Also, if you work in Kedah, Kelantan or Terengganu, your weekend is Friday and Saturday. This changes which holidays sit next to your days off, so check your own state calendar before booking.
How to Get More Days Off With Less Leave?
Here’s a simple trick. Use just five days of annual leave (12 Mar, 21 May, 30 Aug, 17 Sep and 29 Oct), and you’ll get one five-day break and four four-day breaks.
Employers, however, should expect the same dates to be popular with the whole team. Leave requests tend to arrive all at once, so it helps to plan cover early. A good leave management system makes this easier. Employees can apply online, managers can see who’s already away, and approvals won’t get lost in WhatsApp chats or email threads.
Mandatory Public Holidays Under Malaysian Employment Law
If you run a business in Malaysia, knowing the dates is only half the job. You also need to know which holidays you must give and which ones you can choose.
Under Section 60D of the Employment Act 1955, covered employees receive 11 paid public holidays each year. Five of these are compulsory. You then pick the remaining six from the gazetted public holidays.
Which Public Holidays Are Compulsory?
The five compulsory holidays are:
- National Day (31 August)
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday
- The relevant state ruler’s or governor’s birthday, or Federal Territory Day for employees who work mainly in a Federal Territory
- Labour Day (1 May)
- Malaysia Day (16 September)
Employers must choose the other six from the gazetted list. They must also tell employees about their choices before the calendar year begins. In addition, the law allows certain substitutions by agreement.
Final Thoughts
Malaysia’s 2027 calendar offers plenty of chances to plan a break. With five days of leave (12 Mar, 21 May, 30 Aug, 17 Sep and 29 Oct), you can enjoy one five-day break and four four-day breaks. Since holidays vary by state and some Islamic dates still need confirmation, check your state’s calendar before you book.
For employers, the work doesn’t stop at the dates. You’ll need to confirm which holidays apply, arrange replacement days and calculate holiday pay correctly. Sabah and Sarawak also have their own rules.
Tracking all of this by hand is a lot, and one small mistake can cause a payroll error or an unhappy employee. Info-Tech brings your holiday calendar, leave requests, attendance and payroll into one place, so your team isn’t stuck fixing spreadsheets when the holiday season arrives.