There are a number of holidays in Malaysia, most of them taking place for religious reasons (see Festivals in the Religion section), some for state and others for sultans’ birthdays and the like (note below). As you’ll quickly recognise, Malaysia has a lot of holidays and as such employers don’t give an overwhelming amount of vacation days for this reason.

School holidays
March 13-21
June 5-20
September 4-12
November 20-January 2 2010

National holidays
January 1 New Year (except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu)
February 14-15 Chinese New Year (National, second day except Kelantan and Terengganu)
February 26 Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (Maulidur Rasul) (National)
May 1 Labour Day
May 28 Wesak Day
June 5 Agong's Birthday
August 31 National Day
September 10-11 Hari Raya Puasa
November 5 Deepavali
November 17 Hari Raya Haji
December 7 Awal Muharram
December 25 Christmas

State holidays
Negeri Sembilan
January 14 Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan's Birthday

Kedah
January 17 Sultan of Kedah's Birthday

Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Penang & Selangor
January 30 Thaipusam

Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan & Putrajaya
February 1 Federal Territory Day

Terengganu
March 4 Anniversary of Installation of Sultan of Terengganu

Kelantan
March 30-31 Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday

Sabah & Sarawak
April 2 Good Friday

Johor
April 8 Sultan of Johor's Birthday

Melaka
April 15 Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City

Perak
April 19 Sultan of Perak's Birthday

Pahang
May 7 Hari Hol Pahang

Perlis
May 17 Raja Perlis' Birthday

Sabah & Labuan
May 30-31 Harvest Festival

Sarawak
June 1-2 Hari Gawai

Johor
June 19 Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Johor

Penang
July 10 Penang Governor's Birthday

Negeri Sembilan & Perlis
July 10 Israk & Mikraj Kedah

Terengganu
July 20 Sultan of Terengganu's Birthday

Johor, Kedah & Melaka
August 11 Awal Ramadan

Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor & Terengganu
August 27 Nuzul Al-Quran

Melaka
October 9 Melaka Governor's Birthday

Sarawak
October 23 Sarawak Governor's Birthday

Pahang
October 24 Sultan of Pahang's Birthday

Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu
November 18 Hari Raya Haji (2nd day)

Selangor
December 11 Sultan of Selangor's Birthday