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Schools in Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu will have extra holidays on 19 and 21 October, while those in Group B states and territories – Melaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya – will observe them on 21 and 22 October.
In celebration of Deepavali on 20 October (Monday), Malaysia's Ministry of Education has allocated two additional school holidays for students nationwide – excluding Sarawak, as reported by New Straits Times.
This extended break is expected to impact working parents and may require HR teams to adjust leave schedules and workforce planning.
According to the Academic Calendar for 2025/2026, schools will observe the holidays as follows:
- Group A (Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu):
- 19 October (Sunday)
- 21 October (Tuesday)
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Group B (Melaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya):
- 21 October (Tuesday)
- 22 October (Wednesday)
These additional holidays do not require replacement days. The Ministry has emphasised that all schools must adhere to the holiday schedule outlined in the official circular.
What employers should consider
With the extended school holidays for Deepavali, employers may see a rise in leave requests, especially from working parents. To help teams stay prepared, HRO has put together a few strategies for managers and HR leaders to consider adopting:
- Review your team schedules to anticipate potential staffing gaps.
- Offer flexible work arrangements such as remote work or adjusted hours.
- Ensure to communicate leave policies clearly to avoid last-minute disruptions.
- Support working parents with empathy and planning tools to balance work and family commitments.
READ MORE: Mandatory EPF contributions for non-Malaysian citizen employees begin effective October 2025
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