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With both holidays falling on Sunday, 1 February 2026, the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia has shared reminders on replacement holidays, optional leave, and pay entitlements for private-sector employees.
Sunday, 1 February 2026 has been gazetted as a dual holiday by Malaysia's Federal Government, with both Thaipusam and Federal Territory Day falling on the same day. In that vein, the Department of Manpower Peninsular Malaysia has shared guidelines on how employers can tackle the overlap.
Federal Territory Day cannot be substituted
As clarified by the Department, Federal Territory Day is a public holiday that must be granted by private-sector employers in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, as provided under Section 60D(1)(a)(iii) of the Employment Act 1955, and this holiday cannot be substituted. As it falls on a Sunday, employers who designate Sunday as the employees' weekly rest day are required to provide a replacement holiday on the next working day, which would be Monday (2 February).
Thaipusam: Substitute holiday applies if selected as an optional holiday
For employers who have chosen Thaipusam Day as one of the remaining six public holidays under Section 60D(1)(a) of the Act, a substitute holiday must be provided. Given the overlap with Federal Territory Day, the replacement holiday for Thaipusam should be granted on the next working day, which falls on Tuesday (3 February).
Employers may also provide employees with any other paid day off in lieu of Thaipusam, provided this is done with the employees' consent, in line with Section 60D(1A) of the Act.
Pay entitlement for working on public holidays
The department also reminded employers that employees who are required to work on a public holiday are entitled to receive public holiday pay, as prescribed under Section 60D(3) of the Act.
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