KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — The government has approved the right to take unrecorded leave for its Muslim and non-Muslim civil servants for religious reasons, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said a total of seven days at once will be granted to Muslim civil servants throughout the period of their service, so they can go on Umrah (Islamic lesser pilgrimage).

"In appreciation of the 201,600 non-Muslim civil servants, the government has also extended the same length of time to them so they can fulfil their religious obligations,” Lim said during the Budget 2019 tabling in the Dewan Rakyat.

Lim also proposed a RM10 million allocation for medical facilities for the parents of contractual public workers.

"We are concerned for their welfare, and acknowledge the contribution of the 30,000 contractual workers who do not enjoy the facilities as their permanent peers do,” he said.

The minister also said that quarantine holidays for contractual officers whose children develop communicable diseases will be extended.