Get ready, Malaysia! As 2023 rolls in, we’re gearing up for our favourite public holidays, filled with local flavours, traditions, and unmatched Malaysian spirit. From the familiar aroma of rendang during Hari Raya to the spirited lion dances of Chinese New Year, it’s our unique way of coming together as a community. Mark your calendars and join the celebrations!
Malaysian Public Holidays 2023
Malaysia is one of the countries that has different cultures and religions in the world. Each ethnic community contributes to the rich tapestry of Malaysian culture, and this diversity is prominently showcased in the country’s holidays. To respect and celebrate different cultures and religions, our government has set the 3 types of public holidays:
| Holiday | Meaning |
| Federal Holidays | Fixed by the federal government and observed nationwide. For example, Hari Merdeka, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa. |
| State Holidays | Each state may gazette a number of state public holidays to be observed in the state—for example, the birthday of the state Sultan. |
| Holidays by declaration | The Prime Minister may declare any day to be observed as a public holiday. For example, Dato. Lee Chong Wei won the gold medal. |
Public National Holidays and State Holidays in Malaysia 2023
| Date & Day | Public Holiday | State Involved |
| 1 Jan, Sun | New Year’s Day | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 2 Jan, Mon | New Year Holiday | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 14 Jan, Sat | YDPB Negeri Sembilan’s Birthday | Negeri Sembilan |
| 22 & 23 Jan, Sun & Mon | Chinese New Year | National |
| 24 Jan, Tue | Chinese New Year Holiday | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan & Terengganu |
| 1 Feb, Mon | Federal Territory Day | KL, Labuan & Putrajaya |
| 4 Feb, Sat | Thaipusam | Johor, KL, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Putrajaya & Selangor |
| 18 Feb, Sat | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 19 Feb, Sun | Israk and Mikraj Holiday | Kedah & Terengganu |
| 4 Mar, Sat | Installation of Sultan Terengganu | Terengganu |
| 23 Mar, Thu | Sultan of Johor’s Birthday | Johor |
| 23 Mar, Thu | Awal Ramadan | Johor, Kedah & Melaka |
| 7 Apr, Fri | Good Friday | Sabah & Sarawak |
| 8 Apr, Sat | Nuzul AI-Quran | National except Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah & Sarawak |
| 9 Apr, Sun | Nuzul AI-Quran Holiday | Kelantan & Terengganu |
| 15 Apr, Sat | Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City | Melaka |
| 22-24 Apr, Sat-Mon | Hari Raya Aidilfitri Holiday | National |
| 26 Apr, Wed | Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday | Terengganu |
| 1 May, Mon | Labour Day | National |
| 4 May, Thu | Wesak Day | National |
| 17 May, Wed | Raja Perlis’s Birthday | Perlis |
| 22 May, Mon | Hari Hol Pahang | Pahang |
| 30 & 31 May, Tue & Wed | Harvest Festival | Labuan & Sabah |
| 1 & 2 Jun, Thu & Fri | Hari Gawai | Sarawak |
| 5 Jun, Mon | Agong’s Birthday | National |
| 18 Jun, Sun | Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday | Kedah |
| 27 Jun, Tue | Arafat Day | Terengganu |
| 29 & 30 Jun, Thu & Fri | Hari Raya Haji Holiday | Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 7 Jul, Fri | Georgetown World Heritage City Day | Penang |
| 8 Jul, Sat | Penang Governor’s Birthday | Penang |
| 19 Jul, Wed | Awal Muharram | National |
| 22 Jul, Sat | Sarawak Day | Sarawak |
| 30 Jul, Sun | Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday | Pahang |
| 24 Aug, Thu | Melaka Governor’s Birthday | Melaka |
| 31 Aug, Thu | Merdeka Day | National |
| 16 Sep, Sat | Malaysia Day | National |
| 28 Sep, Thu | Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | National |
| 7 Oct, Sat | Sabah Governor’s Birthday | Sabah |
| 14 Oct, Sat | Sarawak Governor’s Birthday | Sarawak |
| 3 Nov, Fri | Sultan of Perak’s Birthday | Perak |
| 11 Nov, Sat | Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday | Kelantan |
| 13 Nov, Sun | Deepavali | National except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Sarawak & Terengganu |
| 11 Dec, Mon | Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday | Selangor |
| 24 Dec, Sun | Christmas Eve | Sabah |
| 25 Dec, Mon | Christmas Day | National |
Note: Public holidays dates are not fixed and are subject to change based on governments’ rulings.
Some public holidays fall on a weekly rest day, such as Saturday and Sunday. It is generally observed on the following working day, Monday. This practice ensures Malaysians can enjoy a full day off to celebrate the holiday.
Start Planning Your Holiday!
Start Planning Your Holiday: Whether it’s a beach day at Langkawi or a food hunt in Penang, let’s make your next Malaysian adventure one for the books!
Conclusion
Malaysia is one of the countries having the most public holidays worldwide, we have around 25 days of public holidays, including the state holidays. No matter our race, we cherish celebrating various public holidays together, respecting every religion and culture. The traffic jam is the best proof that Malaysians love celebrating holidays together.
With the longer public holidays, we love to go back to our hometown or travel. If you love to travel, you must know how to renew your passport online in Malaysia 2023. By learning how to renew passports online, we can save time and not waste our public holidays 2023 in a longer queue to renew passports.
