Malaysia is known for its diverse culture and numerous holidays celebrated throughout the year. The government of Malaysia has declared certain days as national holidays, which are mandated by the national government and observed by all states and territories of the country. These state holidays are usually celebrated in honor of a significant national event or to commemorate a specific cultural, religious or ethnic event.
The official state holidays in Malaysia include New Year’s Day, the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Federal Territory Day, Labour Day, Wesak Day, Hari Raya Puasa, National Day, Malaysia Day, Hari Raya Aidiladha, Deepavali and the Birthday of the Sultan of the respective state. These holidays are observed in all states of Malaysia and are a time for people to celebrate the unique culture of the country.
Malaysia National Public Holidays 2023
| Date | Day | Holiday |
| 1 Jan | Sun | New Year's Day |
| 2 Jan | Mon | New Year Holiday |
| 22-24 Jan | Sun | Chinese New Year |
| 1 Feb | Wed | Federal Territory Day |
| 5 Feb | Sun | Thaipusam |
| 6 Feb | Mon | Thaipusam Holiday |
| 22-24 Apr | Sat | Hari Raya Aidilfitri |
| 29 Jun | Thu | Hari Raya Haji |
| 30 Jun | Fri | Hari Raya Haji Holiday |
| 31 Aug | Thu | Merdeka Day |
| 16 Sep | Sat | Malaysia Day |
| 28 Sep | Thu | Prophet Muhammad's Birthday |
| 12 Nov | Sun | Deepavali |
| 13 Nov | Mon | Deepavali Holiday |
| 25 Dec | Mon | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Tue | Christmas Holiday |
Malaysia Non-National Holidays (Certain States only)
There are a variety of national and non-national holidays celebrated in Malaysia throughout the year. Some of these non-national holidays are only observed in certain states.
| Date | Day | Holiday | States |
| 14 Jan | Sat | YDPB Negeri Sembilan's Birthday | Negeri Sembilan |
| 5 Feb | Sun | Thaipusam | Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor |
| 6 Feb | Mon | Thaipusam Holiday | Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya & Selangor |
| 18 Feb | Sat | Israk and Mikraj | Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis & Terengganu |
| 19 Feb | Sun | Israk and Mikraj Holiday | Terengganu |
| 4 Mar | Sat | Installation of Sultan Terengganu | Terengganu |
| 5 Mar | Sun | Installation of Sultan Terengganu Holiday | Terengganu |
| 23 Mar | Thu | Awal Ramadan | Johor, Kedah & Melaka |
| 23 Mar | Thu | Sultan of Johor's Birthday | Johor |
| 7 Apr | Fri | Good Friday | Sabah & Sarawak |
| 8 Apr | Sat | Nuzul Al-Quran | Kelantan & Terengganu |
| 9 Apr | Sun | Nuzul Al-Quran Holiday | Kelantan & Terengganu |
| 15 Apr | Sat | Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City | Melaka |
| 26 Apr | Wed | Sultan of Terengganu's Birthday | Terengganu |
| 17 May | Wed | Raja Perlis' Birthday | Perlis |
| 22 May | Mon | Hari Hol Pahang | Pahang |
| 30 May | Tue | Harvest Festival | Labuan & Sabah |
| 31 May | Wed | Harvest Festival Holiday | Labuan & Sabah |
| 1 Jun | Thu | Hari Gawai | Sarawak |
| 2 Jun | Fri | Hari Gawai Holiday | Sarawak |
| 18 Jun | Sun | Sultan of Kedah's Birthday | Kedah |
| 28 Jun | Wed | Arafat Day | Kelantan & Terengganu |
| 30 Jun | 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 |
| 22 Jul | Sat | Sarawak Day | Sarawak |
| 23 Aug | Wed | Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar | Johor |
| 24 Aug | Thu | Melaka Governor's Birthday | Melaka |
| 17 Sep | Sun | Malaysia Day Holiday | Kelantan & Terengganu |
| 29 Sep to 1 Oct | Fri | Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday | Kelantan |
| 7 Oct | Sat | Sabah Governor's Birthday | Sabah |
| - | - | - | - |
Long Weekends in Malaysia in 2023
In 2023, there are nine long weekends you can enjoy in Malaysia.
The long weekends include New Year's Day (January 1-2), Chinese New Year (January 22-24), Hari Raya Aidilfitri (April 22-24), Hari Raya Haji (June 29-30), Merdeka Day (August 31), Malaysia Day (September 16), Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (September 28), Deepavali (November 12-13), and Christmas Day (December 25-26).
These long weekends are the perfect opportunity to take a break and explore the country or just relax and have a staycation. With careful planning, you can make the most of these long weekends and annual leave to enjoy a great getaway.
School Holiday Breaks in Malaysia
School holidays in Malaysia occur at the end of each school term, as well as during major public holidays such as Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Hari Raya Haji, Merdeka Day, Malaysia Day, Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, Deepavali and Christmas Day.
School holidays usually last between one and three weeks. In 2023, the end of Term 1 Holidays are on 11 June, the end of Term 2 Holidays are on 10 September, the end of Term 3 Holidays are on 31 December, and the end of the School Year Holidays is on 18 March.
With careful planning, you can maximize school holidays and make the most of your family vacation.
Short Getaway Ideas
There are a number of short getaway ideas for those looking to make the most of the public holidays and long weekends in 2023. The following are some of the most popular getaway ideas:
· Langkawi: Langkawi is an archipelago off the coast of Malaysia and is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway or a family holiday.
· Penang: Penang is known for its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and rich cultural heritage. It is the perfect destination for a relaxed weekend getaway.
· Cameron Highlands: Cameron Highlands is a popular hill station in Malaysia and is the perfect destination for nature lovers.
· Pangkor Island: Pangkor Island is a beautiful island off the coast of Malaysia and is the perfect destination for beach lovers.
· Malacca: Malacca is a historic city in Malaysia with a rich cultural heritage. It is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway.
Conclusion
Malaysia’s public holidays in 2023 provide the perfect opportunity to take some much-needed time off and plan your leaves and getaways. This article provides a comprehensive guide to Malaysia’s public holidays in 2023, including the national, state, and religious holidays, long weekends, school holiday breaks, and other important dates. We hope this article has provided you with useful information to help you plan your leaves and getaways in 2023.