Dr Mahathir says ‘we should have more holidays’.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's move today in declaring Sept 16 a public holiday — to mark the day Malaysia was formed, 46 years after the fact — was met with laughter by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“We should have more holidays,” Dr Mahathir told reporters at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here in an immediate reaction to the announcement made in Parliament earlier.
“Work is not important. Holiday is important,” the 84-year-old added, wearing his trademark smirk.
Dr Mahathir said he did not want to criticise Najib's effort, but pointed out that he was often described as a “workaholic”.
“But now, I'm on a long holiday. I'm not working for anybody,” he said, smiling from ear to ear.
Najib declared Sept 16, which is Malaysia Day, as a national holiday from next year, in his latest move to portray his administration as inclusive.
By making Malaysia Day a holiday he was indicating the importance of the Sabah and Sarawak vote given the balance of politics between Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The move to finally declare Sept 16 a holiday appears aimed at giving Sabah and Sarawak due recognition as part of the country.
Malaysia was formed on Sept 16, 1963, and it has always been a sore point with Sabah and Sarawak that the day they joined the federation was never recognised officially as a holiday. The holiday declaration also takes away a perennial campaign complain by opposition parties.
Successive BN governments have ignored calls to make Malaysia Day a holiday. Najib’s administration is now acknowledging the significance of the votes from Sabah and Sarawak.
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Malaysia sits on top of the world ranking in number of public hollidays!!!As I said Najib is a prodigal child except that what he waste belongs to us the rakyat, not his father.. But he probably think he is entitled to because he is his father's son...
Actually Najib's intention is to mark the day when Anwar failed to be the PM of Malaysia. So there is reason for Anwar to celebrate September, 16 every year.
This is a holiday for 1Malaysia. Remember 16 September 1963 is the birthday of a new nation called Malaysia comprising of all the states and including Singapore. It is very significant to remember this day. The people of Sabah and Sarawak decided democratically by voting to join Malaysia not like the people of the Peninsular Malaysia where only the leaders decided on the formation of the federation. One more holiday is no harm.
I agree to have Sept 16 as a holiday? Why not? It is Malaysia day, it is the real national holiday? I don't think having too many holidays is a problem. Working long hours do not necessarily translate into higher productivity. It is the attitude and quality of work that counts. Look at the French people, the work way less than us, but they are very productive. So please don't complaint about having too many holiday, it is a very obsolete to think that long hours = to more productivity.
What is wrong in giving a public holiday for such an important date, the birth of Malaysia. Tun if you think that this date is not important and does not deserve a holiday, you should have kick out Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia when you were the PM like what was done to Singapore. I think Malaysia is the only country in the world who does have a holiday for the country's formation.
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