Sarawak residents are set to enjoy an extended public holiday weekend this year, but the additional days off are not simply bonus leave—they stem from a careful adjustment of state and national holiday observances.
Understanding the Gawai Dayak Festival and Public Holidays
Gawai Dayak, celebrated on 1 and 2 June, is a significant harvest festival for the Dayak community in Sarawak. It is marked by traditional rituals, festive gatherings, and family visits. Typically, 2 June is designated as a state public holiday to commemorate the second day of Gawai.
However, in 2025, the holiday calendar presents a unique scheduling challenge. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday, a national public holiday observed across Malaysia, falls on Monday, 2 June—the same day traditionally reserved for Gawai Dayak’s second day holiday in Sarawak.
Holiday Rescheduling to Avoid Overlap
To resolve this overlap, the Sarawak government has shifted the public holiday for the second day of Gawai to Tuesday, 3 June. This move ensures that both celebrations receive proper recognition and observance without clashing on the same day.
The holiday schedule for Sarawak in early June 2025 is therefore as follows:
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1 June (Sunday): Main Gawai Dayak celebrations
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2 June (Monday): Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday (national public holiday)
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3 June (Tuesday): Replacement public holiday for Gawai Dayak
Additional Holiday for Civil Servants
Further extending the break, an extra public holiday on Wednesday, 4 June, has been granted specifically for state and federal civil servants in Sarawak. This additional day compensates for the public holiday adjustment and was announced by State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki on 26 May.
The final sequence of public holidays for Sarawak in 2025 thus spans four consecutive days:
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1 June (Sunday): Gawai Dayak
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2 June (Monday): Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday
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3 June (Tuesday): Replacement holiday for Gawai Dayak
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4 June (Wednesday): Extra holiday for civil servants
Honouring Tradition and Governance
This extended holiday period reflects Sarawak’s commitment to honouring its cultural heritage while accommodating national observances. Residents can look forward to a long weekend filled with celebration and rest, underscoring the state’s unique governance and respect for diverse traditions.
