Malaysian government urged to review minimum wage

Senator Dr Yaakob Sapari has called on the Malaysian government to review the minimum wage as it no longer matches the increased cost of living, particularly for graduates.

The current salary increment rate ranges between 100% and 150%, while the cost of living has increased from 400% to 600%,  he said, according to Bernama. 

“The 12MP (12th Malaysia Plan) still focuses on helping the poor and efforts to make Malaysia a high-income country but unfortunately, the country’s wage rate does not commensurate with these efforts,” said the senator.

In search of higher wages, young workers in the country have migrated to other countries, he said. 

“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, around 300,000 Malaysians crossed the Johor Causeway to work in Singapore because wages there were higher, and the currency value was higher. That is why efforts to raise the minimum wage need to be reviewed,” he explained. 

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“If the government is really serious about developing the people’s economy for the next five years, expect the right job for the right man. This matter needs to be prioritised so that the quality of the economic sector in the country can be sustained, in line with the government’s intention to strengthen the Malaysian Family agenda,” the senator added.