Holiday on Sept 16 next year, says Penang CM

Monday September 1, 2008 MYT 3:27:52 PM
Holiday on Sept 16 next year, says Penang CM
By WINNIE YEOH

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government would definitely make Sept 16 a public holiday.

He, however, said the day would probably only be made a holiday next year.

“We probably cannot have it this year as we already declared a public holiday on Aug 26. We have to take the business industry into consideration, as a day off would greatly impact the sector,” he said Monday after attending a drainage cleanliness campaign in Tanjung Bungah near here.

Lim said this in response to PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s proposal that all Pakatan Rakyat states make Sept 16 a public holiday.

Anwar had said the Government should declare Sept 16 as a public holiday to mark the anniversary of Malaysia’s formation as it was the day when Sabah and Sarawak joined the country in 1963.

He proposed that all states ruled by Pakatan Rakyat declare the day as a public holiday.

“Let us start our celebration on Aug 31 and end it on Sept 16,” he had said in his speech at a thanksgiving feast at the Seberang Jaya Expo site on Sunday to celebrate his victory in the Permatang Pauh by-election.