The Malaysian government has officially announced a standardized five-day working week for the civil service, effective today, February 8, 2026. This move aims to harmonize operational hours across different states and improve the work-life balance of over 1.6 million public employees.

Under this new directive, Friday will remain a working day nationwide, including in states that previously observed a Friday-Saturday weekend. To accommodate religious obligations, extended break times have been implemented for Friday prayers to ensure that the welfare of Muslim staff is preserved while maintaining government productivity. 

Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, stated that this reform is part of the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPI). The transition is expected to streamline administrative processes and ensure that counter services remain consistent for the public across the entire country.