Johor weekend change a better fit for families and businesses

JOHOR BAHRU – The shift to a Saturday-Sunday weekend in Johor has garnered support from various groups, including parents, youths and business organisations.

They believe that standardising the weekend will enable better family plans, while businesses anticipate improved cooperation and coordination between the state government and federal agencies operating outside the southern state.

Cleaning supervisor S. Srikanth, 48, welcomed the news, noting that it would allow him to spend more quality time with his two children aged 11 and five.

“My wife works in Singapore as a factory operator and is usually off on Saturdays and Sundays, just like I am, since I work in Johor Bahru. Previously, we could only spend time with our kids on Saturdays,” he said.

“It was quite a challenge taking care of them on Fridays when they were home. Now, I’m optimistic that things will improve, with two full days to spend together. This change will also help us better organise family gatherings and holidays with relatives outside Johor.”

Senior marketing manager Farrer Tan, 41, said that the change would enable her and her husband to spend more quality time with their two children.

“My husband and I work in the private sector, so we could only spend one day with our children because of our differing day offs.

“This change will significantly impact our lives, making it much easier for us to plan our weekends,” she said, expressing her joy upon hearing the news.

On the business front, president of the Young Malaysians Movement in Johor Brevia Pan Woon Shien stated that the weekend change is vital for helping Johor businesses align with international shipping schedules.

“From a logistics standpoint, we can now operate our business from Monday to Friday, much like our neighbour Singapore, since global shipping generally functions only on weekdays,” said Ms Pan.

“The only downside is that government services will no longer be available on Sundays, but I believe that’s manageable. People are more excited about having more family time on Saturdays and Sundays,” she added.

Ms Pan also hopes for no further weekend adjustments to enhance investors’ confidence in the state.

Johor Youth Council vice-president Azhar Zainal Abidin stated that the change in the weekend schedule would also benefit the youth in Johor.

“The majority of our youth work in Singapore, so this weekend adjustment will give them more time to spend with their families,” he said.

He added that the government should also use the transitional system from now until January 2025 to align the schedules of private sector businesses and government agencies.

“There shouldn’t be any issues with this adjustment, as we’ve done it before.

“It’s important to remember that Johor isn’t like the states on the east coast; our neighbour is Singapore and this change will also impact our economy,” said Mr Azhar.

Mr Ivan Teo, chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels Johor Chapter, noted that changing the weekend is a positive move that could boost local businesses, particularly in the Johor Bahru area.

“With the weekend returning to Saturday and Sunday, we can expect a significant increase in traffic, especially in Johor Bahru, as locals join the Singaporean crowd.

“We should also be prepared for longer waiting times, particularly at restaurants, due to the larger crowds,” he said, expressing hope that the relevant agencies and businesses are ready to manage the situation.

Mr Teo noted that the change could affect hotel occupancy outside Johor Bahru, as many hotels previously benefited from high occupancy rates on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when guests followed different weekend schedules.

Johor Bumiputera Chambers of Entrepreneurs and Traders vice-president Datuk Abd Latif Bandi echoed this sentiment, emphasising that business owners should also be ready to increase their workforce.

“For businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises in Johor Bahru, weekends will now be their busiest days since we share the same weekend off as Singapore.

“I urge business owners to ensure they are fully prepared in terms of manpower, as weekends will be hectic,” he said, also noting the importance of allowing Muslim staff enough time for Friday prayers.

Mr Abd Latif further suggested that the government should deploy more traffic authorities on weekends in Johor Bahru, especially in busy shopping areas like Angsana Johor Bahru Mall and Bandar Baru Uda, where congestion tends to be particularly severe. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK