Having Friday as rest day not a measure of one's faith - Johor DAP leader

Johor’s decision to revert to a Saturday-Sunday weekend will not erode Islamic values, said Johor DAP vice-chairperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali.

In a statement, he explained that having Friday as a rest day is not a measure of one’s Islamic faith but rather the specific obligation of attending Friday prayers.

“In Verse 9 of Surah Al-Jumu’ah, Allah commands the believers to hasten to Friday prayers and abandon their business activities when they hear the call to prayer. The following verse encourages believers to disperse afterwards and seek Allah’s bounty.

“In this context, there is no cause for concern because the regent’s instructions ensure that private companies, government bodies, and other entities will allow Muslims sufficient time to perform Friday prayers,” he added.

Sheikh Umar (above) also stressed that not all traditions inherited from the colonial era or past practices should be viewed as inherently negative.

“If we apply this reasoning, would we also say that the monarchy system in our country is a colonial inheritance?

“What about democracy and elections? What about the parliamentary system? Aren’t these all legacies of the colonisers?” he remarked.

Sheikh Umar’s statement came following Johor PAS leader Mohd Mazri Yahya’s claim that shifting the weekend to Saturday and Sunday is a “colonial legacy”.

Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah previously observed weekends on Friday and Saturday.

However, on Oct 7, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim announced that the state would return to a Saturday-Sunday weekend from Jan 1, 2025.

Tunku Ismail stated that the decision had been made with the consent and blessing of his father, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, after considering the views of the Johor Islamic Religious Council.

Conflicting views

Echoing a similar opinion, Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi questioned why PAS is turning this into a political issue, given that the change does not affect one’s aqidah (belief).

“PAS should not be hypocritical. There are many colonial legacies that PAS itself accepts and uses.

“The nation’s Constitution is a colonial legacy (via Lord Reid), yet this has not hindered the growth and spread of Islamic teachings and laws,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Following Tunku Ismail’s announcement, various political figures expressed their views, including PKR’s Hassan Karim, who disagreed with the change, stating that Friday is a holy day in Islam and that maintaining Friday as a weekend day would not put Johor at an economic disadvantage.

On Oct 11, Tunku Ismail posted on Facebook that those displeased with the decision could move to other states. He added that the change was made to allow more time for the people of Johor to spend with their families and the positive economic benefits it would bring.

Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi later urged an end to public statements on the matter, reiterating that the state had received advice from religious authorities who confirmed that the change would not compromise Islam’s sanctity.

Johor has altered its official weekends multiple times.

The state first observed a Saturday-Sunday weekend in 1994, when Muhyiddin Yassin, then with Umno, was the menteri besar.

However, on Jan 1, 2014, Sultan Ibrahim reverted Johor to its traditional Friday-Saturday weekend.

Weekend change best decision for Johoreans, MB says

Johor regent: Move to other states if upset with weekend realignment

PKR MP disagrees with Johor move to revert to Saturday, Sunday weekend

Saturday-Sunday weekend in Johor can boost FDI, says Teo

Johor to revert to Saturday, Sunday weekend next year - TMJ