Raising Minimum Wage A Brave Action, Mirror Of Unity Government’s Determination
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The move to raise the minimum wage rate to RM1,700 (US$1 = RM4.36) reflects the political determination of the Unity Government, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, described the decision to raise the minimum wage as bold, noting that waiting for companies alone to decide would prevent any progress.
"If I leave it to the companies, there would be no decision - it’s impossible to reach one that way. So, I discussed it with my friends in the Cabinet. The country is doing well, investments are coming in significantly, and a prosperous nation cannot afford to see this sort of treatment to our workers.
"We are not RM500 or RM3,000, we are going from RM1,500 to RM1,700," he said at the launch of Putrajaya MADANI Residency Housing Development here today.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that all companies will cooperate in implementing the new minimum wage rates, which will take effect in February next year.
When tabling Budget 2025 last Oct 18, Anwar announced that the government agreed to raise the minimum wage rate from RM1,500 per month to RM1,700 per month which will take effect on Feb 1, 2025.
The government also decided to postpone the minimum wage of RM1,700 for employers with less than five employees for six months.
Anwar said the decision to raise the minimum wage to RM1,700, as announced in the 2025 Budget, is a clear political commitment that reflects the government's seriousness in helping the people.
Speaking at the same event, Prime Minister also said that efforts taken by the government to help the people, especially those in need, will not lead to its downfall because the main cause of such a situation is corruption.
He said that there has never been a record in world history of a government collapsing due to allocating significant allocations for the benefit of the people.
“I have never read or seen in world history, whether in the history of Islamic civilisation, ancient China, India, Arab nations, or Latin America, that a government has collapsed because it spent a lot to help the poor.
“There has never been a record of any government losing power or falling because they helped the poor or raised wages fairly.
“Governments fall due to corruption, greed, and the leaders hoarding wealth that does not belong to them. That is what causes nations to crumble,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
