With Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day both falling on Sunday, 1 February 2026, the Malaysian Employment Act 1955 (Section 60D) requires employers to observe the following for employees covered by the Act:
Replacement Holidays
• When a statutory public holiday falls on a rest day (Sunday), the next working day becomes a paid public holiday under Section 60D(1)(b) of the Employment Act 1955.
• Since both Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day coincide on Sunday, 1 February 2026, and both are gazetted public holidays in the Federal Territory:
— Monday, 2 February 2026, will be the replacement public holiday for Federal Territory Day.
— Tuesday, 3 February 2026, will be the replacement public holiday for Thaipusam.
Employees in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan (where Federal Territory Day applies) who normally have Sunday as a rest day will thus receive both Monday and Tuesday off as paid holidays, returning to work on Wednesday, 4 February 2026.
Employer Obligations
1. Paid Public Holidays:
— Employers must grant these replacement days as paid public holidays at the ordinary rate of pay for employees entitled under the Employment Act.
2. Employment Act Coverage:
— Employees covered under the Employment Act 1955 are entitled to 11 paid public holidays per calendar year, including Federal Territory Day as one of the legally required holidays if the employee works primarily in the Federal Territory.
3. Work on Public Holidays:
— If an employee works on a public holiday, they must be compensated according to the Act:
• 2× ordinary daily wages for work on a public holiday, and
• 3× hourly rate for overtime, where applicable.
4. Advance Notice:
— Employers must notify employees of the list of public holidays and any replacement holiday arrangements before the start of the calendar year (as required under Section 60D of the Act).
Key Takeaways (Summary)
1 February 2026 (Sun): Thaipusam + Federal Territory Day, both fall on Sunday.
2 February 2026 (Mon): Replacement holiday for Federal Territory Day.
3 February 2026 (Tue): Replacement holiday for Thaipusam.
Employees working under the Employment Act are entitled to both days off as paid holidays (if the employer observes both).
Working on these holidays triggers higher pay entitlements if the employee is required to work on the holiday.
📎 Source
📄 JTKSM
