The government has yet to decide if the swearing in of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31 will be declared a public holiday.
Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Ismail Bakar told Twentytwo13: “So far, (we) have not decided. (There are) too many holidays for January and February already.”
There are two national holidays in January – New Year (Jan 1) and Thaipusam (Jan 21) – while state holidays include the birthdays of the Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan (Jan 14) and Sultan of Kedah (Jan 20).
In February, Federal Territories Day falls on Feb 1 while Chinese New Year, a national holiday is on Feb 5 and 6.
The Conference of Rulers will hold a special meeting on Jan 24 to elect the next Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
This comes following the abdication of Sultan Muhammad V on Jan 6. No reason was given for him stepping down.
April 24, 2017, was declared a national public holiday to celebrate the installation of Sultan Muhammad V as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Sultan Muhammad V took his oath of office on December 13, 2016.
On Jan 7, Twentytwo13 revealed efforts were underway to make Tengku Abdullah Shah the new Sultan of Pahang and thereafter possibly the new King as it is Pahang’s turn following the unique rotation system among the Malay rulers in Malaysia.
The Regent of Pahang was installed as the sixth Sultan of Pahang at Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan, Pahang this morning.
The state government, however, did not declare a public holiday for the historic occasion.