00:00A group representing small and medium-sized enterprises has called for the Public Holidays Act 1951 to be amended to
00:09curb the government's power to declare ad hoc public holidays, saying the practice disrupts businesses and burdens small enterprises.
00:16The Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia said the act should be reviewed so that discretionary holidays are limited
00:25to genuine emergencies or major occasions like the installation of a new king.
00:31In a statement, Samantha President William Ng also called for a minimum notice period of at least three months for
00:38any non-urgent additional holiday.
00:40Ng said the practice of announcing extra holidays on short notice, whether at the federal or state level, had become
00:47an unhealthy habit that impacted the economy.
00:51He said it creates avoidable financial pressure for businesses already dealing with rising costs and an uncertain global economy.
00:59Ng said the services retail and food and beverage sectors were especially exposed, as perishable stock and delivery schedules could
01:07be thrown off by last-minute changes.
01:09He said if certain celebrations were important enough to merit a holiday, they should be gazetted well ahead of time
01:16so businesses can adjust staffing and delivery plans without suffering surprise losses.
01:22Naramtha Raja, FMT
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