KUCHING: The announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for this coming Monday (Sept 4) to be a public holiday has been generally welcomed by the local public.
The PM’s announcement, made during the closing ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, was to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Malaysian athletes and to acknowledge their sacrifice in lifting the country to the top of the standings with a record gold medal haul.
Student Kam Syn Jin, 22, said the extra day off would enable her to earn double pay in her part-time job.
“The extra public holiday definitely benefits me as I will earn double pay. I would also like to congratulate my beloved country and all the athletes for winning the SEA Games 2017, and I am really proud to be a Malaysian.”
Music tutor Joycelyn Lau, 25, said: “The extra holiday is good and I plan to spend time with friends and family because they too have this ‘extra’ holiday.”
Pharmacist Lee Qian Jin said that while she welcomed the extra holiday, she still needed to work on Monday.
“It is good having the extra holiday on Monday, but it (announcement) is too last minute and we are not prepared for that.
“Patients’ appointments have already been scheduled and are impossible to cancel. So we still end up having to work.”
For healthcare personnel Grace Heng, the extra day off did not make a difference as she would not be having time off.
“It doesn’t make any difference for me because I am working shift. Whether or not it is a public holiday, I still need to work. I can only claim it on some other day.”