Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today backed a plan for Malaysia's one million civil servants to work a five-day week, down from the current five-and-a-half-days, saying it will help boost tourism and strengthen families.

"In principle, we will introduce a five-working-day week for civil servants. It will bolster family bonds and promote domestic tourism," he said in a speech to government workers, without specifying when the change would be introduced.

Civil servants have been urging the government to abandon the current five-and-a-half-day working week which sees them at their desks on Saturday mornings.

Nordin Abdul Hamid, president of the civil servants union, immediately hailed the decision.

"We have been asking the government to consider this move over the last five years. Indeed it will give our members more time to rest and spend quality time with their family," he told AFP .