The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) has taken issue with the Kedah administration's reasoning that a Thaipusam holiday is not necessary as everyone is on "holiday" due to a second movement control order (MCO).
The "MCO holiday" line was used by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Mohd Nor yesterday and was repeated by his political secretary Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden today.
"An occasional holiday is not given because the people are already on holiday when most of them work from home during the MCO," Afnan Hamimi said on Facebook today.
However, Cuepacs secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin (above), said working from home clearly means it's not a holiday.
As such, Abdul Rahman opined that it was only reasonable that Thaipusam be declared a holiday in Kedah.
"There is no term that a holiday is not given because of working from home. That's not a celebration, that's working.
"Working from home is still work, even though it's online. It's still work.
"So you should give a holiday and rest for civil servants, especially those who are Hindus, if they want to celebrate at home in moderation," he told Malaysiakini.
Abdul Rahman said this was the respectful thing to do in a multireligious society like Malaysia.
Otherwise, he said, it might become an issue with non-Muslims questioning why Nuzul Quran is a holiday but not Thaipusam.
Thaipusam this year falls on Thursday, Jan 28.
It has been observed as an occasional holiday in Kedah since 2014. - Mkini
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