KOTA KINABALU, March 15 — The government has agreed to provide an additional day off in conjunction with this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration to appreciate the efforts and dedication of the people who worked hard throughout the month of Ramadan, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He noted that the date of the additional holiday is subject to the date of the declaration of Syawal 1.
If Hari Raya Aidilfitri falls on Friday (March 20), the government will set Monday (March 23) as the additional holiday.
"On the other hand, if Hari Raya falls on Saturday (March 21), then the additional holiday will be on Friday (March 20)," Anwar said when officiating the National Consumer Day 2026 today.
Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, and his deputy Datuk Fuziah Salleh.
He added that the government's decision to announce the additional holiday earlier is intended to make it easier for people across the country to plan their trips.
"We are giving this Aidilfitri holiday because we see that everyone has worked hard during this Ramadan to celebrate this Aidilfitri with joy and happiness with their beloved families," he said.
Anwar also announced the implementation of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026 Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for 15 days, starting yesterday.
The scheme covers a period of seven days before and seven days after the festival to ensure stability in the prices of essential goods.
"The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has identified the types of goods that are controlled by location: 24 goods in the Peninsula, 23 goods in Sabah and Sarawak, and 22 goods in the Labuan Federal Territory," he said.
Meanwhile, there was a slight challenge of price increases for red chillies following supply disruptions caused by major floods in Thailand, the exporting country.
In this regard, Anwar advised consumers to consider using dried chillies as an alternative while the ministry details the list of controlled items.
