The Most Important Public Holidays In Malaysia In 2022

The Prime Minister’s Department in Malaysia has announced the dates of the upcoming public holidays in Malaysia.

It is advisable that all employers in Malaysia remain aware of the upcoming public holiday dates. This ensures the better management of manpower and smooth operational transitions. However, there may be changes and modifications made along the way if official changes are announced.

Dates of Public Holidays in Malaysia for 2022

These are the official public holiday dates in Malaysia for the year 2022. There is a total of 38 public holidays in Malaysia for 2022 altogether:

READ MORE: The Most Important Public Holidays in Thailand In 2022

Some Of The Most Important Holidays in Malaysia In 2022

Awal Ramadan

Photo: VOI

Awal Ramadan is the first day of Ramadan. It is a public holiday in Johor, Kedah, and Melaka. It is deemed as the most sacred of all months for Muslims, apart from the month of Ramadan. It is observed as a time of peace and mourning.

Awal Ramadan is also known as Awal Muharram and Maal Hijrah. The word Hijrah is derived from an Arabic word that denotes moving or emigrating. This is why it coincided with the period when Prophet Mohammed migrated from Mecca to Medina in 622AD.

Prophet Mohammed went to Medina because of threats over his life. The Prophet then decided to go to a town called Yathrib. It is now known as Medina.

Ramadan, also known as Ramadhan or Ramzan, is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During this period, Muslims across the globe focus on praying, fasting, helping out the charity, and amplifying religious devotion.

Awal Ramadan, as mentioned, is a public holiday. With this, it is expected that most offices and all schools are closed to commemorate the event. Usually, the Muslims in Malaysia are celebrating the occasion in private with their families. For some, this means more time to relax or do other things as this is free time.

Some families go on vacation and spend this time to bond. This is ideal because Malaysia is comprised of many tourist destinations.

During these kinds of religious gatherings, Muslims discuss passages from the Quran. They sing religious songs and have different sermons. Muslims also take time for self-reflection and prayer.

Muslims start fasting on the 10th day of Awal Ramadan, which covers sunrise to sunset when it is time to conclude their fasting, families share and eat cooked sweet rice known as Bubur Asyura.

Merdeka Day

Photo: TripSavvy

Independence Day (Malay: Hari Merdeka, also known as Hari Kebangsaan or "National Day"), is the official independence day of Federation of Malaya. It commemorates the Malayan Declaration of Independence of 31 August 1957, and is defined in Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia. The day is marked by official and unofficial ceremonies and observances.

The observation of 31 August as Malaysia's national day is the cause of some controversy, due to calls to prioritize the celebration of Hari Malaysia (Malaysia Day) on 16 September instead. Hari Malaysia commemorates the formation of Malaysia in 1963, when 4 entities called North Borneo, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya federation to form Malaysia. Some, especially people from East Malaysia, argue that it is illogical to celebrate 31 August 1957 as Malaysia's national day when Malaysia was only established in 1963, before that there was no Malaysia. Supporters of Hari Merdeka argue that "the Federation" as defined in Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia is the "Federation of Malaya" that was established in 1957.

The effort for independence was spearheaded by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, who led a delegation of ministers and political leaders of Malaya in negotiations with the British in London for Merdeka, or independence along with the first president of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Tun Dato Sri Tan Cheng Lock and fifth President of Malaysian Indian Congress Tun V. T. Sambanthan. Once it became clear that the Communist threat posed during the Malayan Emergency was petering out, agreement was reached on 8 February 1956, for Malaya to gain independence from the British Empire. However, logistical and administrative reasons led to the official proclamation of independence in the next year, on 31 August 1957, at Stadium Merdeka (Independence Stadium), in Kuala Lumpur, which was purposely built for the celebrations of national independence day. The announcement of the day was set months earlier by the Tunku in a meeting of the Alliance in Melaka.

Nuzul Al-Quran

Muslims today celebrate the day when the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) first received the revelation of the Holy Quran from the archangel Jibril. Over the next 23 years, Muhammad would receive further revelations until his death. Literacy was not common and Muhammad, too, could not read or write. There were those around him that wrote down these revelations. It is said that after Muhammad’s death, the first successor caliph, Abu Bakar, instructed for the verses to be compiled for the first time.

As a child, I remember being interested in the end sections of the Holy Book. The surahs were shorter. Most Muslims memorise the latter surahs because of their brevity. Those of us who are not learned ulema or imams, will use these latter surahs for our daily prayers. Children will be tested by their parents to learn many of these verses by heart. Some Muslims who prefer shorter congregational terawih prayers during the nights of Ramadhan will find mosques where the imam will read these shorter surahs rather than the entirety or parts of the longer surahs found in the earlier parts of the Quran.

Generally speaking, the longer surahs in the front sections of the Quran are Medinan verses. This means that they were revealed to the Prophet in the city of Medina. In 622AD, upon divine guidance, Muhammad decided to leave his birthplace of Mecca for the city of Medina. He and his followers faced constant persecution in Mecca from people opposed to his message and cause. And his life was threatened. He received word from Medina that the city would welcome him and his followers. His migration is commemorated as the Hijra and marks the first year in the Islamic calendar.

The longer surahs that were revealed in Medina laid down the details of the faith - jurisprudence, obligations, the framework of the Islamic community and punishments. It is thought that since the community of followers had grown in Medina after the Hijra, the message would be one of defining the rules of being part of the community.

But before he left Mecca, Muhammad received revelations of the generally shorter surahs. These were somewhat more intense messages of the foundations of faith. Scholars believe this to be the case because Muhammad was up against the entrenched elites that practiced polytheistic idolatry in Mecca. These verses, therefore, gave strength to Muhammad and his followers to persevere and believe in the Oneness of Allah as opposed to the polytheistic idolators.

With this brief background, I want to share what is believed to be one of the Meccan surahs. It is a relatively popular surah and one that Muslims will try to memorise once they have learnt the much shorter surahs regularly used in daily prayer. It is one of my father-in-law’s favourite surah and I remember him reciting it regularly during salah. Although the context of the revelation is different, I believe that the eternal message that it imparts is useful for Muslims and everyone else during these difficult days that the world finds itself in.

Hari Raya Haji

Photo: Pngtree

Hari Raya Haji is is also known as the Festival of Sacrifice and falls 70 days after the holy month of Ramadan, on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja. It lasts for up to four days. The festival marks the end of the annual holy pilgrimage to Mecca and demonstrates each practicing Muslim’s submission to Allah.

In mosques, prayers are said and sermons read out, then there are sacrifices of cows, goats and sheep by those who are financially able to do so. The meat from the animals is packaged and delivered to the poorer Muslim families, the practice of which helps the devotees remember those who are less fortunate.

Later in the day, Muslims visit parents and families for a happy celebration and big meal. Bazaars and festivities are held around Singapore in places like Kampong Glam and Geylang Serai. The markets are highly decorated and there is a happy and celebratory atmosphere everywhere.

Hari Raya Haji is also known as the Greater Eid, Kurban Bayram, Eid al-Bakr and Bakrid. The ritual observance of the festival continues until sunset of the 12th day of Dhul Hijja and the sacrifices may take place until sunset on the 13th day of Dhul Hijja.

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