Know the difference: Medical leaves, annual leaves, and absence for general emergency reasons in Malaysia

While medical leaves include weekly rest days, weekly holidays, and general holidays, annual leaves do not, the Public Service Department has clarified.

The Public Service Department of Malaysia has reminded employers to be mindful of the differences in annual leave, sick leave, and leave of absence for general emergency reasons. 

For clarity, more information on the different kinds of leave are as follows. 

Medical leave

According to PSD, medical leave allocation in Malaysia has a rate of 180 days per year (private and/or government medical certificate). The first 90 days are approved by the head of department, the additional 90 days are approved by the Secretary General of the Ministry. It includes weekly rest days, weekly holidays, and general holidays.

This applies to officers certified unfit to work by a medical officer/medical board/panel of doctors. 

There has to be confirmation on the sick certificate.

Provisions as laid out in General Order 15 and 17 Chapter C (Holidays), MyPPSM SR.5.4.5 and SR.5.4.

Annual leave 

The entitlement rate for annual leaves is 20/25/30/35 days per year, subject to the regulations in force. It can be taken at any time during the year based on qualifying service, and excludes weekly rest days, weekly holidays and general holidays.

Remaining annual leaves that were not utilised in the first year can be carried over to the third year.

Annual leaves are subject to the department head's approval.

Provisions as laid out in General Order 7-11 Chapter C (Leave) and MyPPSM SR.5.1.1.

Absence for general emergency reasons

This leave is taken as a result of emergencies such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, bridge collapses, other disasters and natural disasters, general restriction orders by the authorities. The emergencies must have obstructed travel to the office or to the usual place of work. This does not affect the employee's leave eligibility and the employee does not need to submit a leave application during the period of absence from work.

The head of department can obtain confirmation of the incident from the District Officer or Penghulu, police officer, Malaysian Information Department, Social Welfare Department, or mass media broadcasts to certify. 

Disaster cases and personal accidents or involving an officer's property are not included in the general emergency term. 

Leave is subject to department head's approval.

Provisions as laid out in MyPPSM SR.4.2.7.

Lead image / Public Service Department's Facebook