Kula (seated) at YB Menteri Kula Bersama Rakyat programme with Calvin Chong (second left) and Vivien Wong.
SANDAKAN: Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran, said that 99 percent of employers are implementing the minimum wage set at RM1,100.
According to him, the implementation is near perfection as only one percent of employers in Malaysia failed to follow the minimum wage set.
“Employers have nothing to lose because they could use these wages to write off the amount against tax (income tax). For example, if the company is earning RM10 million, the income tax that they need to pay could be reduced with salaries paid to the company’s employees. At least it is feeding people and their families,” he added.
Kulasegaran said this during the YB Menteri Kula Bersama Rakyat programme organised by the Human Resources Ministry held at Kim Fung market mile 4 Labuk Road here yesterday morning.
He said the programme is held at markets all over Malaysia and is aimed to bring departments and agencies under the ministry to the people.
“We are doing this approach so that the rakyat could meet with relevant departments and agencies under the ministry to ask questions and address their problems. For example, questions on immigrant workers and so on.
“We also have here representatives from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Socso, Niosh, and so on. About nine departments are involved in this,” he said.
Kula said the programme was a success as the target groups which are the locals were present and were able to enjoy services that were offered by the departments involved.
Also present at the programme were Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun, Elopura community development leader Jason Pang, and the late Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt’s daughter, Vivien Wong.
Kula said that it is the ministry’s aim to have their services more accessible to the rakyat.
“For example, the Human Resources Ministry has been conducting meet-with the people-day every Tuesday from 8am to 10am. I will personally be there at the office to meet with the people, or if I am absent, the secretary general will be there.
“Heads of departments under my ministry will also be there. This is to provide convenience to the people who go to the ministry as it would become a one-stop centre to solve their problems related to the ministry.
“Sabah Labour Department has also been practising the same meet with the people day also on Tuesday from 8 am to 10 am,” he added.