Year-end is the busiest time to go home. Schools are on a long break, Christmas falls on a Friday, and many workers want to travel in the same week. This guide is about planning: when the school holiday starts and ends, when to ask for leave, and when to buy tickets. For the full list of public holidays from Oct 2026 to Feb 2027, read the going-home holiday calendar. For flights from Senai, read flying home from Senai Airport.
Information as of 30 Oct 2026. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Your actual leave depends on your contract and your company calendar.
Dates to know
| Date | What happens | Source | |---|---|---| | Fri 4 Dec 2026 | Last school day, Group B | KPM | | Sat 5 Dec – Thu 31 Dec 2026 | Year-end school holiday, Group B | KPM | | Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day, public holiday | Office Holidays, Ecentral | | Mon 4 Jan 2027 | 2027 school session starts | RTM |
Johor, Sabah and Sarawak are all in Group B, per the KPM 2026 academic calendar (Appendix B). So children in Johor and back home are on holiday over the same period. Ecentral's Johor page also lists the 5–31 December school break. KPM announced that the 2027 session starts on 4 January 2027, according to RTM (3 Oct 2026).
Christmas is on a Friday, so the long weekend runs Friday 25 to Sunday 27 December (our calendar count, not an official announcement). Christmas Eve, 24 December, is a state holiday in Sabah only, per Office Holidays. Do not assume a factory in Johor follows Sabah's holiday.
New Year 2027: do not assume a day off
1 January 2027 is a Friday. Office Holidays marks it as a state holiday and does not list Johor among the states that observe it. Ecentral also marks it a state holiday without naming the states. We could not confirm whether Johor has the day off. Ask HR before you buy a ticket that depends on 1 January.
When to do what
We have no data on seat availability or fares for December 2026, so no prices here. These are general suggestions:
- Now to early November: ask HR when annual leave is allowed. Some factories close year-end leave requests early because many people apply at once.
- Once leave is approved: then buy the ticket. A ticket bought before approval can be wasted if leave is refused.
- Pick two options for going and returning. The busiest dates are likely the Christmas weekend and the weekend before schools reopen (Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 January). That is our estimate from the calendar, not booking data.
- Leave a day early or return a day late if your employer allows it. Ordinary weekdays are usually quieter than weekends.
- Give yourself extra time on flight day. The road to Senai Airport can be busy, and check-in takes longer at peak times.
If you use the Causeway or Second Link
Most Sabah and Sarawak workers fly and do not cross the border. But if you or a housemate is going to Singapore, or riding in a vehicle that uses BSI or KSAB, expect heavy traffic. At the end of 2023, The Star reported that Johor activated all contra lanes at both checkpoints for Christmas and New Year. That is an old report; we found no 2026 announcement as of 30 Oct. Check Johor and Immigration announcements closer to year-end.
Pay if you work on a public holiday
If your employer asks you to work on 25 December, read overtime, rest day and public holiday pay to see what is set out. Do not agree by word of mouth only; get it in writing or by message.
What to do / who to call
- Leave and shifts: your HR or supervisor.
- Flight tickets: the airline directly. Do not buy from unknown middlemen. Senai Airport contact numbers are in the flying home guide.
- Foreign workers going back to their home country: ask your employer and the airline what documents you need, and make sure your work permit and passport are valid before you leave.
- Your room while you are away: talk to your landlord and housemates. See the move-in checklist for ideas on recording the room's condition.
FAQ
When are the 2026 year-end school holidays in Johor? Group B, including Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, is on holiday from 5 to 31 December 2026 per the KPM calendar.
When do schools reopen? The 2027 session starts Monday 4 January 2027, per KPM as reported by RTM.
Is 24 December a holiday in Johor? Not marked for Johor. Office Holidays lists 24 December 2026 as a Sabah-only state holiday.
Is 1 January 2027 a holiday in Johor? We could not confirm. The sources we checked call it a state holiday and do not list Johor. Ask your employer.
Looking for a room in Senai?
If you are looking for a worker room near your factory in Senai, see our current rooms and pricing or WhatsApp +60 12-708 8789 (https://wa.me/60127088789) to check availability.
Sources
- KPM, Academic Calendar 2026 (Circular Bil. 3/2025), Appendix B (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- RTM, KPM announces 2027 school session starts 4 January (3 Oct 2026) (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- Ecentral, Cuti Johor 2026 (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- Office Holidays, Malaysia 2026 (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- Office Holidays, Malaysia 2027 (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- Ecentral, Cuti 2027 (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
- The Star, Johor to activate contra lanes for Xmas, New Year (22 Dec 2023) (accessed 30 Oct 2026)
Looking for a room in Senai? See the rooms at House 151, Taman Senai Baru, check rent, deposit & house rules, or go straight to today's vacant rooms.
