Kuala lumpur: The Federal Government has officially announced that February 1, 2026, will be observed as a dual public holiday to commemorate Thaipusam Day and Federal Territory Day.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Peninsular Malaysia Department of Labour highlighted that Federal Territory Day is a mandatory holiday for private-sector employers within the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan. This is in accordance with Section 60D(1)(a)(iii) of the Employment Act 1955, which mandates that it is a non-substitutable holiday.

The department noted that since February 1, 2026, falls on a Sunday, employers whose weekly rest day is Sunday must provide a replacement holiday on the following Monday. Additionally, for employers who choose Thaipusam Day as one of their six optional holidays under the Act, a replacement holiday is required on Tuesday due to the dual holiday overlap.

Alternatively, employers may, with the consent of their employees, designate a different day as a paid holiday, as permitted under Subsection 60D(1A) of the act. Employees who are required to work on either of these public holidays are entitled to receive holiday pay as specified in Section 60D(3).