Cr Dominic Nyurang
MIRI: The PH government should consider coming up with a mechanism before implementing a standardised minimum wage of RM1,050 monthly or RM5.05 per hour nationwide from January 1 next year.
Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Lee Khoi Yun said: “We are not against the new government. We just want them to consider as there are huge differences and gaps in many other aspects between those in peninsula and Sarawak.”
“It is important for the government to come up with a mechanism or formula to lessen the hardship and problems faced by the people with the increase in cost of living,” he added.
Meanwhile, PBB Telang Usan youth chief Cr Dominic Nyurang said PH had promised a minimum wage of RM1,500 in their GE14 manifesto.
By announcing the RM1,050 minimum wage, it is another promise broken by PH govt.
“If they knew a drastic salary increase could lead to other problems for industries and jeopardise the country’s economic competitiveness, then they should not have given false hope to the people by promising a minimum wage of RM1,500 in their election manifesto,” he said.
The previous govt initiated the minimum wage policy in response to the grouses over rising cost of living.
But they did not resort to fooling the rakyat by promising a big adjustment to the minimum wage like what PH had done.
“I would like to urge the new govt to consider increasing the minimum wage to a level higher than the announced RM1,050. A minimum wage of RM1,200 should be ideal to help cope with the increase in cost of living,” he suggested.
Nyurang believed the increase to RM1,200 is necessary as now other government monetary aid like BR1M would be reduced in stages and gradually stopped.
The implementation of 10 per cent sales tax also results in higher price of goods.