ISKANDAR PUTERI: The decision to change Johor's weekend rest days from the present Friday and Saturday will not be made anytime soon, says Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.

       The state local government and housing committee chairman added that this was because the matter required the consent of Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar first.

       Jafni, who is also Bukit Permai assemblyman, said the state government was in the midst of getting feedback from all stakeholders pertaining to the matter.

       “At the state government level, there is still no decision, we are only studying and listening to requests from the people and stakeholders.

       "But for now there is no decision yet because a comprehensive study needs to be done as the matter is also related to Sultan Ibrahim’s decree so, of course, getting His Majesty’s consent is important.

       “Any decision on the matter will not be made soon,” he said when met during the sidelines of the state assembly meeting held at Bangunan Sultan Ismail here in Kota Iskandar on Tuesday (June 21).

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       On Monday (June 20), Pasir Raja assemblyman Rashidah Ismail proposed that the state government adopt a three-day weekend for a four-day work week.

       She said countries such as Belgium, Iceland, Scotland, Spain, Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) practiced a four-day work week from Monday to Thursday with rest days from Fridays to Sundays.

       "If productivity is the subject of debate, then I suggest this option where we work full-time from Monday to Thursday with an additional one hour.

       "If the working hours were from 8am to 5pm before, then the implementation of this proposal will see working hours of 8am to 6pm from Monday to Thursday.

       "Then there will be half-day working hours on Friday, which is from 8am to noon where Muslim workers are still able to comfortably fulfil their Friday prayer obligations," she added during her debate on Sultan Ibrahim’s decree in the state assembly meeting.

       Meanwhile, Johor Jaya assemblyman Liow Cai Tung urged the state government to speed up its review on the matter so that it can be presented to the Johor Ruler for His Majesty's consent.

       "The state is among the main contributors to the nation's economy. Standardising rest days with private bodies will increase productivity, efficiency and Johor's tourism sector," she said.

       ALSO READ: MB: Johor to review weekends

       On June 14, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state was looking at the possibility of reviewing its rest days after listening to feedback from the people about the difference in rest days between the government and private bodies.

       He said a solution to the matter could be announced soon.

       In 2013, Sultan Ibrahim had declared the change of the state's rest days to Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday.

       The change of weekend has been in effect in the state since Jan 1, 2014.

       Besides Johor, states such as Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu have Friday and Saturday as their weekend off-days.