MP blasts PM over minimum wage announcement made at Umno AGM

 

Nurul Izzah Anwar said Ismail Sabri Yaakob must remember that he is the prime minister for all of Malaysia, not just his party.

KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR MP has taken a swipe at Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for announcing the new minimum wage of RM1,500 at the Umno general assembly last Saturday.

Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh) said she was shocked when Ismail announced the new minimum wage at the Umno AGM, saying it was unprecedented for a prime minister to make such a major policy announcement at a political party event.

“You are the prime minister for all of Malaysia, not just your party.

“So, while we welcome this, we must remember that the issue of a RM1,500 minimum wage had been raised even before the pandemic wreaked havoc,” she said when debating the Employment Amendment Bill 2021.

Nurul Izzah said a review of the minimum wage should be conducted every two years, based on the National Wages Consultative Council Act 2011.

“It’s a good start, but it might have been relevant four years ago.

“I’m not saying we should pay no regard to employers’ needs, but we have to be fair. If we follow the needs of people today, it (the minimum wage) should be higher.”

While speaking at the Umno AGM on Saturday, Ismail announced that the new minimum wage of RM1,500 would come into effect on May 1.

He said the increase, from the current minimum wage of RM1,200, would only involve companies in the private sector which had five employees or more. - FMT