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If you're based in Sarawak, congratulations. You're enjoying an extra long weekend this year without even taking leave.
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In case you didn't know, Gawai Dayak is a major harvest festival celebrated in Sarawak every 1 and 2 June. It's a major holiday for the Dayak community, packed with rituals, feasting, and visiting family.
Normally, 2 June is a state public holiday in Sarawak for the second day of Gawai. But this year, there's a twist…
2 June is the first Monday of the month this year, which is when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday, a national public holiday, is observed across Malaysia
Since we can't stack two holidays on the same day, the Sarawak government has moved the public holiday for the second day of Gawai to Tuesday, 3 June, this year.
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Here's how the Gawai weekend looks for Sarawakians this year:
- 1 June (Sunday): Main Gawai rituals and celebrations
- 2 June (Monday): Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday (national public holiday)
- 3 June (Tuesday): Replacement holiday for Gawai Dayak
So, no, it's not an extra day off. It's just a respectful reschedule so Gawai can be properly celebrated without clashing with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's birthday this year.
However, there's also an extra holiday on 4 June for state and federal civil servants in Sarawak this year
According to Borneo Post Online, both state and federal civil servants in Sarawak will also get 4 June (Wednesday) off. This extra day is being given to make up for the overlap of Gawai Dayak and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's birthday on 2 June.
The announcement came via a notice issued by State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki on 26 May.
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So, what's the final holiday lineup in Sarawak?
- 1 June (Sunday): Gawai Dayak
- 2 June (Monday): Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Birthday
- 3 June (Tuesday): Replacement for Gawai Dayak
- 4 June (Wednesday): Extra public holiday for civil servants
That's a solid four-day break for many in Sarawak. And no, it's not just for fun. It's about honouring Gawai, maintaining cultural traditions, and embracing Sarawak's unique state governance.
