‘Cancel public holidays for Deepavali, Wesak’

A Chinese business leader complains that there are too many public holidays in the country, and urges the government to slash this.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tamil newspapers are abuzz with reports that a Chinese business figure has urged the government not to give public holidays for Deepavali and Wesak Day.

According to the reports, the chairman of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Chamber of Commerce, William Cheng, had complained about the nation having too many public holidays.

He said that the current 17 public holidays were bad for business.

Cheng then purportedly said the government should consider cancelling the public holidays for Deepavali and Wesak Day because the festivals involved “minority” groups.

Cheng’s comments were reported both in Makkal Osai and Malaysia Nanban. The Tamil dailies had quoted a report by Nanyang Siang Pau.

Commenting on the matter, MIC publicity and communication chief S Vell Paari said that if Cheng had actually made the remark, “then it was a very irresponsible thing to say.”

Vell Paari said he had asked the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (Maicci) president Kenneth Easwaran to contact Cheng for clarification.

“We will give him the benefit of the doubt for now,” he added.

Deepavali, also known as the festival of lights, is celebrated by the Hindus, who make up the majority of the two million Indians in the country.

Whereas Wesak Day, which marks the birth of Lord Buddha, is celebrated by some three million people here. - FMT