[UPDATED] RM1,500 minimum wage effective from May 1: Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR – The minimum wage increase to RM1,500 will be implemented May 1 onwards, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob despite opposition from certain business groups.

The Umno vice-president, however, said smaller businesses may be exempted from the new wage structure, in recognising that they may face financial difficulties to meet the requirement. 

He added that the Human Resources Ministry and Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry will be holding discussions soon to finalise on the details pertaining to the exemption. 

“We understand that there may be restaurants and stalls located in villages, for example, that may have a small income,” he said in delivering his winding up speech at the Umno general assembly today. 

Ismail Sabri also announced that the proposed amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) to increase the RM1,000 compound for offences committed will not be tabled in Parliament.

He said this is to ensure that Malaysians are not overburdened by the fines issued over violations of health standard operating procedures.

According to Ismail Sabri, the reversal of its decision was following discussions with Umno Supreme Council, which expressed its objection to the matter. 

“I would like to stress that the proposed maximum fine of RM100,000 for individuals and RM500,000 for companies will not go ahead. The RM1,000 fine will remain.”

On recent threats mounted by heirs of the Sulu Sultanate, Ismail Sabri reiterated the government’s commitment to defend Sabah. 

He said the administration will be filing a fresh protest to the Paris court on the recent US$14.92 billion (RM62.59 billion) award given by Spanish arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa to the Sulu sultanate descendants. 

“To the people of Sabah, don’t worry. We will defend the land from being harassed by the Sulu people. 

“The Malaysian government is not afraid. We will not budge even an inch when it comes to protecting the sovereignty of the country and the position of Sabah. We will protect Sabah forever.”

On the delay in approving the RM10,000 withdrawal of Employees Provident Fund, Ismail Sabri said he needed to find a suitable time to make the announcement after the opposition appeared to try to claim credit. 

“We wanted to announce during the Johor election, but then everybody wanted to be the hero. The opposition leader and DAP also suddenly pushed for it. 

“I said that if we announced it then, surely they would have (claimed credit). So I felt that the most suitable date is to announce during this general assembly, so that the rakyat know that this withdrawal is because of Umno’s efforts.”

Other policies he announced include requiring foreign students in Malaysia to learn Bahasa Melayu in an effort to elevate the language to the number two spot in Southeast Asia. – The Vibes, March 19, 2022