KUCHING: The recent announcement of an extended weekend in conjunction with Gawai Dayak, Wesak Day and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Birthday has already prompted early conversations among Sarawakians, even with the holidays still about a month away.
Rather than triggering immediate travel, the news has quietly set planning in motion, with many checking leave balances, coordinating family schedules, and deciding whether to stretch the break into a longer trip home.
For those with ‘kampung’ roots in places like Kapit and Mukah, the extended window offers a practical advantage.
A few carefully selected leave days can now turn into a longer stay, something not always possible during shorter festive breaks.
At the same time, not everyone is approaching the upcoming holidays with the same sense of urgency.
For some, especially the self-employed or small business owners, the period is already being viewed differently, with priorities shaped more by workload than time off.
Revina Mamat, 48, a clerk, is among those who had already set her plans in place well ahead of the announcement.
“I will start my leave from May 25 because I still have quite a lot of annual leave. I’m entitled to 30 days a year, so when there’s an extended break like this, it helps because I don’t need to apply for too many extra days,” she told Sarawak Tribune.
Her return to Kapit, she added, had always been tied to Gawai.
“I already planned to take about two weeks off to go back to Kapit with my family. For Gawai, we want to spend proper time there, not just a short visit. We’ll be travelling by road. So, having more days means we don’t have to rush,” she said.
For Md Haical Abdullah, 60, a training consultant, the upcoming break is less about convenience and more about timing.
He said his family intends to return to Mukah during Gawai after missing their chance during Hari Raya.
“During Raya, we couldn’t go back because my daughter-in-law had just given birth through C-section,” he said.
“So during the Gawai holidays, we are planning to go back and bring our grandchild along. The baby is just over a month old.”
Still, he pointed out that public holidays do not necessarily translate into time off for everyone.
“For people like me, leave is optional. It doesn’t really depend on public holidays. But this is the time we choose to focus on things outside of work and spend time with family,” he added.
Meanwhile, entrepreneur Rebecca Lazarus, 43, is already bracing for a busy period ahead.
As a Bidayuh handicraft business owner, she said demand tends to pick up as Gawai approaches, leaving little room for a break.
“I won’t be celebrating Gawai in a big way this year, just something simple. I’m busy with craft orders, and even during Gawai, if there are no visitors, I will continue working,” she said.
Despite that, she said her employees would still be given time off.
“I will give my workers about a week off so they can celebrate Gawai,” she said.
For Syawalnurizam Awang Zaini, 29, a public servant, plans remain open for now.
“I don’t have anything fixed yet. It’s still quite early. Most likely I’ll just stay in Serian, spend time with family, maybe visit relatives. Nothing too far,” he said.
For now, most plans remain fluid, with many only beginning to consider their options following the announcement.
For those intending to return to their hometowns, preparations are likely to pick up in the coming weeks, particularly with travel arrangements and family coordination still to be sorted out.
At the same time, others are choosing to keep things simple, preferring to spend the break relaxing at home with their families.
