Disclaimer: Long weekends in this story will refer to the Monday to Friday work week, unless otherwise stated.
With the pandemic still ongoing, it may be difficult to make plans to go on vacation or balik kampung in 2021.
However, it doesn’t mean we can’t be hopeful!
There will be 14 national public holidays in 2021.
Four of them will officially make these long weekends next year:
New Year’s Day: 1 to 3 January (Friday to Sunday)
Chinese New Year: 12 to 14 January (Friday to Sunday)
Hari Raya Aidilfitri: 13 to 16 May (Thursday to Sunday)*
Agong’s Birthday: 5 to 7 June (Saturday to Monday)
*These dates are subject to change.
With careful planning, you can get yourself nine extra long weekends if you take annual leave on these dates next year:
Thaipusam: 28 January to 31 January (Thursday to Sunday)*
– Take leave on Friday, 29 January
– Those living in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya have an extra long weekend with Federal Territory Day on Monday, 1 February
Nuzul Al-Quran: 29 April to 2 May (Thursday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Friday, 30 April
Wesak Day: 22 May to 26 May (Saturday to Wednesday) OR 26 May to 30 May (Wednesday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Monday and Tuesday, 24 and 25 May, OR Thursday and Friday, 27 and 28 May
Hari Raya Haji: 17 July to 20 July (Saturday to Tuesday)*
– Take leave on Monday, 19 July
– Those living in Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, and Terengganu have an extra long weekend with an additional Hari Raya Haji public holiday on Wednesday, 21 July
Awal Muharram: 7 to 10 August (Saturday to Tuesday)
– Take leave on Monday, 9 August
Hari Kebangsaan: 28 August to 31 August (Saturday to Tuesday)
– Take leave on Monday, 30 August
Malaysia Day: 16 September to 19 September (Thursday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Friday, 17 September
Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday: 16 October to 19 October (Saturday to Tuesday)
– Take leave on Monday, 18 October
Deepavali: 4 November to 7 November (Thursday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Friday, 5 November
*These dates are subject to change.
In addition to nationwide public holidays, those who are staying and working at particular states get to enjoy their state-specific days off too!
If you live in these states, enjoy even more long weekends (with or without extra leave days):
PERLIS
Israk and Mikraj: 11 March to 14 March (Thursday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Friday, 12 March
Raja Perlis’ birthday: 17 July (Saturday)
PERAK
Sultan of Perak’s birthday: 5 November to 7 November (Friday to Sunday)
PENANG
George Town World Heritage City Day: 7 July (Wednesday)
Penang Governor’s Birthday: 10 July (Saturday)
SELANGOR
Sultan of Selangor’s birthday: 11 December (Saturday)
PAHANG
Hari Hol Pahang: 22 May (Saturday)
Sultan of Pahang’s birthday: 30 July to 1 August (Friday to Sunday)
NEGERI SEMBILAN
Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan’s birthday: 14 January to 17 January (Thursday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Friday, 15 January
Israk and Mikraj: 11 March to 14 March (Thursday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Friday, 12 March
MELAKA
Awal Ramadan: 10 April to 13 April (Saturday to Tuesday)*
– Take leave on Monday, 12 April
Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City: 15 April to 18 April (Thursday to Sunday)
– Take leave on Friday, 16 April
– Alternatively, take a nine-day holiday by combining both April weekends and take an extra leave on Wednesday, 14 April!
Governor of Melaka’s birthday: 8 October to 10 October (Friday to Sunday)
JOHOR
Sultan of Johor’s birthday: 23 March (Tuesday)
Awal Ramadan: 13 April (Tuesday)*
Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar: 10 to 13 September (Friday to Monday)
– Take leave on Sunday, 12 September
KEDAH
Israk and Mikraj: 11 March to 13 March (Thursday to Saturday)
Awal Ramadan: 13 April (Tuesday)*
Sultan of Kedah’s birthday: 18 June to 20 June (Friday to Sunday)
KELANTAN
Sultan of Kelantan’s birthday: 11 to 13 November (Thursday to Saturday)
TERENGGANU
Installation of Sultan of Terengganu Anniversary: 4 to 6 March (Thursday to Saturday)
Israk and Mikraj: 11 March to 13 March (Thursday to Saturday)
Sultan of Terengganu’s birthday: 23 April to 26 April (Friday to Monday)
– Take leave on Sunday, 25 April
SABAH
Good Friday: 2 April to 4 April (Friday to Sunday)
Harvest Festival: 29 May to 31 May (Saturday to Monday)
Sabah Governor’s Birthday: 2 October (Saturday)
SARAWAK
Good Friday: 2 April to 4 April (Friday to Sunday)
Hari Gawai: 29 May to 2 June (Saturday to Wednesday)
– Take leave on Monday, 31 May
KUALA LUMPUR, LABUAN, AND PUTRAJAYA
Federal Territory Day: 30 January to 1 February (Saturday to Monday)
*These dates are subject to change.
Assuming these states follow the Sunday to Thursday work week.
Happy planning!
