The Johor Association of Chinese Chambers of Commerce welcomes the change on rest day in Johor from Sunday to Friday, as long as private sector and banks keep the status quo.

According to association president Tan Seng Leong, this would mean reverting to how it was prior to 1994, when the rest day for Johor was changed from Friday to Sunday.

"In the 1990s, the private sector in Johor worked Monday to Friday while the civil service and schools were off on Friday and Saturday.

"We are requesting that the government allows the same arrangement now," Tan said, adding that the business sector should not be compelled to pay overtime to those working on Friday.

Johor Baru Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Loh Lian Hiang said the most crucial thing is for banks to stay open on Friday.

“Before 1994, the banks closed on Friday. But it was fine as Johor did not have much industry then.

“Now we have more industry, including in the Iskandar region involving international investors, and some trade cannot wait for three days,” Loh said.

Their comments follow the assurance from Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin that "it is up to the private sector, whether to follow it (rest day on Friday) or not".

However, the Khaled did not state whether companies operating on Friday would be compelled to pay their workers overtime.

'Change will not affect trade'

Tan said that by maintaining status quo in the private sector, the rest day change would not affect external trade, with either Singapore or the other Malaysian states that observe Sunday as rest day.

Tan, who is with the hospitality industry, said the Friday rest day ruling will be a boon for consumer industries, as would mean the extension of peak days from two to three days.

As it is, he said, government functions booked at hotels for next year are being moved from Sunday to Friday, while private functions remained on Saturday and Sunday.

"With the government offices open on Sunday, private sector workers, especially those who work in Singapore, can do their errands without having to take leave from work.

"We'll also see the easing of traffic on Sundays and Fridays, as not everybody will be working on those days," he said.

Tan proposed that companies with Muslim employees introduce a shift work schedule to give option to these employees to have Friday as a rest day, so it would be easier for them to perform Friday prayers.

Loh, meanwhile, said that the move will add efficiency in the government service as civil servants no longer can take long lunch breaks on Friday and leave early.

“Friday is effectively half-day in government offices, and then they get two days off. Life was good. Now I think the government workers are the ones most unhappy,” he quipped.

NONE He shares his views with Iskandar Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry adviser Shahrir Samad ( left ), who told the New Straits Times that Johor Baru is already a "24/7 city", with many businesses operating round the clock.

Earlier, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce was reported by Sin Chew Daily as saying that the move would affect Johor Baru's economic competitiveness, especially in the trade with Singapore.

This was echoed by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), which told Channel News Asia that it would affect Singapore companies with subsidiaries in Johor, which would have only four workdays aligned.

SBF chief executive officer Ho Meng Kit told the Singapore news broadcaster that prior to 1994, Singapore businesses operating in Johor paid workers overtime to keep operations going on Fridays.

Separately, Star reported that the Council of Churches Malaysia would request special allowances for Christians who traditionally attend church on Sunday.

Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on Nov 24 decreed that the state's rest day will, from next year, be changed from Sunday to Friday.