KUALA SELANGOR, Aug 10 — The government plans to provide funds to help raise the salaries of employees in Malaysia in an effort to help ease the burden faced by the people, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the matter had been discussed at the Cabinet after taking into account the situation where there were companies that made profits of up to RM1 billion but their workers’ wages were still not increased.
“So we said that no matter what, with the cost of living and inflation, although it is low, it still burdens the people. Therefore, we have submitted a proposal and are in the final stages of a study, because we cannot force the companies to raise workers’ wages, but we can use mechanisms such as the Minimum Wage Act.
“I want to tell you, brothers and sisters, we have come up with a surprising proposal that has never been thought of by Perikatan Nasional. What is it? We will provide a sum of money of between RM1 billion and RM2 billion to find a way to raise salaries.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said for example, the proposal would help raise workers’ wages from RM2,000 to RM2,200 from funds provided by the government.
He was speaking at the Jelajah Perpaduan Madani Grand Finale in Kuala Selangor tonight.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the government would be able to better focus on national development if the Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional alliance could defend Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang in the state elections this Saturday, as well as gain another one or two more states.
“I am confident that if we can strengthen the Selangor government and win in style in Negeri Sembilan and Penang and be able to penetrate one or two other states, the country we will be in class A because we can focus on the development of our country.
“So I hope my friends, we don’t have much time left, please save us, don’t be careless, this is about saving ourselves, our family, our state and saving our country.”
The Election Commission has set Aug 12 as polling day for the elections in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan while early voting was carried out on Aug 8.
— Bernama
