Public holidays play a crucial role in shaping a company’s culture. These designated days off represent more than just breaks from the regular work routine; they are important in fostering a balanced and inclusive workplace.
Recognizing and appropriately managing public holidays is an essential part of HR functions, contributing to employee well-being, morale and legal compliance. As we welcome the new year, HR professionals need to keep track of the Malaysia public holiday 2025, as it affects work schedules, payroll, leave management, and overall business productivity.
This comprehensive Malaysia public holiday guide will provide you with important information on Malaysia's regular and special public holidays, employee entitlements and managing public holiday pay during these dates.
How many public holidays in Malaysia?

Understanding Malaysia public holiday 2025 is essential to conducting business and ensuring proper workforce planning. It is worth noting that Malaysia public holidays can vary by state, so do take note of regional variations.
Here is the list of federal Malaysia public holiday 2025:
- New Year’s Day - 1 January 2025
- Chinese New Year - 29 January 2025
- Chinese New Year - 30 January 2025 (except Kelantan)
- Nuzul Al-Quran - 18 March 2025
- Hari Raya Aidilfitri - 31 March 2025
- Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday Second Day - 1 April 2025
- Labor Day - 1 May 2025
- Wesak Day - 12 May 2025
- Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong - 2 June 2025
- Hari Raya Haji - 7 June 2025
- Awal Muharram (Islamic New Year) - 27 June 2025
- Merdeka Day - 31 August 2025
- Maulidur Rasul (Prophet Muhammad's Birthday) - 5 September 2025
- Malaysia Day - 16 September 2025
- Deepavali - 20 October 2025 (except Sarawak)
- Christmas Day - 25 December 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are all Malaysia public holidays observed nationwide?
No, Malaysia has both federal (national) and state public holidays. Federal holidays are observed throughout the country, while state holidays are specific to individual states.
2. How many public holidays in Malaysia?
The number changes depending on the state. There are a set number of national holidays, then each state adds their own.
3. Is Good Friday a public holiday in Malaysia?
Good Friday is only a Malaysia public holiday in the states of Sabah and Sarawak. It is not a national Malaysia public holiday 2025.
4. What happens if a Malaysia public holiday falls on a weekend?
This varies by state. Some states will declare the following Monday as a replacement holiday, while others may not. It’s best to refer to the specific state’s holiday calendar for accurate information.
5. Is Hari Raya Haji a public holiday in Malaysia?
Yes, Hari Raya Haji is a national Malaysia public holiday.
6. Do foreign workers have the same rights regarding Malaysia public holiday pay?
Yes, generally, foreign workers in Malaysia are entitled to the same Malaysia public holiday pay rights as local employees, as highlighted in the Employment Act.
7. Are probationary employees entitled to Malaysia public holiday pay?
Yes, probationary employees are entitled to the same public holiday pay as regular employees.
Managing Leave and Public Holiday Pay with Omni
Managing leave and Malaysia public holiday 2025 is crucial at the workplace. Employers should communicate holiday schedules early, ensuring enough coverage during peak employee absence periods. Clear rules on holiday pay and time-off requests, especially during festive times, contribute to fair time-off management and payroll practices.

Omni’s time off management capabilities empower managers and HR teams to swiftly navigate employee leave applications. Our platform allows you to approve leave applications on the go and keep track of who’s in and out of the office with at-a-glance scheduling.
Our employee self-service portal enables employees to submit their time off requests, which automatically route to the appropriate manager thanks to customizable approval workflows. Automated calculations offer real-time leave balance visibility without the need for HR intervention.
Check out our employee time-off request form template!
For public holiday entitlements, Omni’s comprehensive payroll solution integrates seamlessly with leave management. Supporting MYR and offering automated public holiday pay, tax calculations, and managed contributions, Omni simplifies payroll processing while ensuring compliance.
Choose Omni to effortlessly manage your Malaysia public holiday 2025 leave and entitlements, tailored to meet your evolving business needs. Book a demo with our team today to learn more.