Malaysia has gained global recognition for its cultural diversity, rich history, and distinctive landscapes, solidifying its position as one of the world's most sought-after tourist destinations. The country achieved a remarkable milestone in 2023, welcoming a staggering 26 million international tourists, marking the highest figure in Southeast Asia.

Adding to Malaysia's list of unique distinctions is its status as one of the countries with the highest number of public holidays globally. This revelation comes from British TV presenter and social media influencer Mark O’Dea, based in Malaysia, who shared the amusingly extensive list of public holidays for the year 2024 on his Instagram account.

In a brief 40-second video, O’Dea showcased a special 2024 planner that detailed public holidays from various countries worldwide. He systematically presented the public holidays of several nations, such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the United States. However, the highlight of the video was the moment O’Dea scrolled down to unveil Malaysia's remarkably long list of public holidays, creating a comical contrast to the comparatively shorter lists of other countries.

Accompanied by the Star Wars theme music in the background, the presentation took on a cinematic flair, resembling the iconic prologue opening crawl found at the start of every movie in the franchise. Malaysian viewers expressed amusement in the comments section, with some joking about the prospect of gaining an additional public holiday if the country secured its first gold medal in the Olympics. Another commenter playfully suggested that Malaysia might warrant an entire page dedicated to its extensive list of public holidays.

Despite the abundance of public holidays, a Malaysian pointed out the paradox that many still complain when these holidays don't coincide with Mondays or Fridays, presumably to extend the celebratory period into a long weekend.