Good news, if you’re a civil servant celebrating Deepavali!
All Hindu civil servants will reportedly be given the option to take another day of unrecorded leave on Wednesday (7 November), on top of the entitled one-day public holiday for Deepavali, which is today (6 November). Civil servants who are of this faith have the option to do so from the year 2018 onwards.
Source: vatican news
This was announced by Public Service director-general Borhan Dolah through an official circular yesterday (5 November). He explained that the aim of this additional day off is to give them more time to celebrate the festival with their loved ones.
He was quoted by Malaysia Kini as saying,
“The one-day unrecorded leave entitlement effective this year is to allow more opportunity for government officers to celebrate with their family members.”
“Subjected to acceptance by the respective authorities, this circular has been forwarded to all state civil servants, statutory bodies at federal and state levels, as well as all local councils.”
For illustration purposes only | source: kayak
In Malaysia, hinduism is a minority religion comprising about 1.78 million people, which makes up 6.3 per cent of the total population. Deepavali, which is also known as the festival of lights, is declared a public holiday across all states in Malaysia except Sarawak.
This year also marks the first time that the government is giving civil servants of the Hindu faith the special entitlement to take an additional unrecorded day off in conjunction with the religious celebration.
Spread the word to your Hindu friends in the civil service! Will you be taking the extra day off tomorrow?
Also read: 8 Very M’sian Things We Do That Have Unknowingly Brought Our Different Cultures Together
