KOTA KINABALU, SABAH, MALAYSIA December 2025 – As Christians across Sabah prepare for Christmas Eve services tonight, the state continues to observe 24 December as an official public holiday, a tradition that began in 2019 to allow faithful to attend church without work obligations.
In a social media post today, Datuk Ewon Benedick, President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, highlighted the history behind the holiday while extending festive greetings.
Ewon recounted that in 2019, the then-Sabah government approved the declaration of Christmas Eve as a public holiday. The decision stemmed from a cabinet paper presented by then-Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau.
According to Ewon, who was present at the cabinet meeting, Madius – acting on a prior UPKO party resolution – proposed the additional day off to align Christmas celebrations with the extended holidays granted for other major festivals, such as two days for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year, and Pesta Kaamatan.
“It is rare for a cabinet member to present a paper outside their portfolio, but YB Datuk Seri Panglima Madius did so to advocate for equity in festive observances,” Ewon noted in his post.
The cabinet approved the proposal, enabling Christians in Sabah greater opportunity to participate in Christmas Eve worship. The holiday has remained in place ever since and is unique to Sabah among Malaysian states.
As current UPKO president and a Christian Sabahan, Ewon expressed profound gratitude to Madius for securing the holiday, calling it a meaningful recognition of religious diversity.
He concluded his message with warm wishes: “Selamat menunaikan ibadah Krismas kepada semua penganut agama Kristian” (Merry Christmas worship to all Christians), followed by the slogan “Sabah First!”
The post underscores Sabah’s multicultural harmony, where Christians form a significant portion of the population. Official sources confirm that 24 December remains a state public holiday in Sabah for 2025, alongside Christmas Day on 25 December.
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