Explain on minimum wage hike, Mydin boss tells Putrajaya

SHAH ALAM - The government needs to explain the mechanism used in the new RM1,500 minimum wage to overcome confusion over the matter, said Mydin boss Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin.

This is because the government's explanation is still seen as "rhetoric", he added.

“The implementation of the minimum wage is a sensitive subject, I agree that the minimum wage needs to increase from RM1,200 to RM1,500 because this (involves) the Malays, our people. So, if we don't pay more, how are they going to survive?

“But what is the explanation from the government as to why should we do this? There is no explanation. The explanation is very rhetorical.

"In fact which employer does not want to raise an employee's salary? If possible, I want to give everyone RM10,000 a month.

“But where is the productivity? The price of goods cannot go up, if it does then the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs ministry (KPDNHEP) will come in (premises) the next day" he said during the Bersama Johan Jaaffar program which took place at the Karangkraf Group Complex on Wednesday.

The programme was held by Tan Sri Johan Jaafar.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri had announced a minimum wage hike of RM1,200 to RM1,500 which saw a backlash from industry players, urging the government to delay the implementation as they were still reeling from the lockdowns and the December flash floods.

Ameer said it is difficult to raise the prices of goods but salaries have gone up.

He further said the government's policy on wages have not been up to mark since the days of former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

For example, he said back in 1976 when he was a student in the US, the minimum salary there was RM2.10 per hour. "When I returned (Malaysia) in 1981, the minimum salary was RM3 per hour and when I worked at Arab Bank previously, my salary was RM1, 200.

“In Mydin, we pay only RM1,500 to RM1,800 for graduates, but there are others out there who pay RM2,000.

“The minimum wage in the US is now RM12 to RM13, which is 4.5 times the salary increase. In Malaysia we used to pay RM1,200, but now many including me do not pay RM2,400,” he said.

He also acknowledged that Malaysians are oppressed to protect the interests of multinational companies (MNCs) seeking cheaper labour.

"When they do not want to raise the salary, (they) do not want to invest. We are too afraid and simply listen (to their instructions),” he said.