JOHOR BARU: Sunday (Oct 16) has been declared as a special holiday for Johor, in celebration of the state’s excellent sporting performance throughout the year, says its state secretary.

Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar decreed this following Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) clinching of the Malaysia Super League for the ninth consecutive time, and for winning 10 trophies in other football competitions this year.

“The special holiday is also to celebrate Johor for coming out top of the table in the recent 20th Malaysia Games, a first since the event was first held in 1986.

“For the first time, Johor took home 77 gold medals, exceeding our 55-medal target,” he said in a statement late Saturday (Oct 15) night.

Aside from football, the state also did well in netball where the Johor Jewels emerged champion in the Sooka Netball Super League 2022, he added.

“Johor’s sepak takraw team showed peak performance too, when they won the Piala Tun Ali in August while the state’s rugby team was crowned champion in the National Rugby Sevens below 21 as well as the HARP Men’s U19 Championship 2022.

“This special holiday is a way of showing the state government’s gratitude to those involved in the success and to the Johor people for their unwavering support,” he said, adding that the declaration of the holiday was in line with the provision of powers conferred under Section 9(1) of the Public Holidays Act.

Meanwhile on his Facebook page, Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi also announced the special holiday while congratulating the teams on their achievements.