Switch in rest days may affect our revenue, say business owners in Johor

Despite Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Khaled Nordin’s confidence that the switch in the state's rest days to Friday and Saturday will not have a huge effect on the state's economy, commerce groups say otherwise.

The change in the state’s rest days to Friday and Saturday would inadvertently affect businesses, said these groups.

Moving away from the usual Saturday and Sunday observed by most companies locally and internationally would reduce business opportunities, they said.

“You will only have four business days to communicate with companies elsewhere and get things done,” said Tan Sri Lim Sing, vice-president of the Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM).

“So, of course, this won’t be good for business when states are working on different timetables.”

Earlier today, the Johor sultan declared that effective next year, the rest days would be reverted to Friday and Saturday. This turns the clock back to how things were prior to 1994, which was when former Johor menteri besar Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had swtiched the rest days to Saturday and Sunday.

Mohamad Khaled said in Muar earlier today that the private sector had the option to either follow the state government or observe Saturday and Sunday as rest days.

He said those having Sunday as their rest day could still have dealings with the state government as Sunday would be a normal working day for state government employees.

"I don't think with current rapid technological development, a switch in weekends will have a huge effect on the state's economy,” he said.

Commerce groups, on the other hand, expressed concerns that with so much activity going on in the Iskandar region, businesses may lose out with fewer transaction days in a week.

"Iskandar Malaysia attracts major foreign investments and globally, Saturdays and Sundays are recognised as weekends,” said P. Sivakumar, president of Johor Indian Business Association.

He said Singapore, especially, has invested heavily in the project and the decision would not please Singaporean firms with business dealings across the straits.

Lim agreed that businesses with foreign entities in Johor’s crown jewel could suffer some repercussions.

“There are many overseas companies involved In Iskandar. Problems would likely arise when firms are not able to coordinate since most companies get the weekends off,” he said.

However, he said potential hurdles stemming from the switch in rest days could be overcome, given the flexible nature of businesses to adapt and persevere in tough business climates.

“People would eventually familiarise themselves and adapt to the new rest days,” Lim added.