A FORMER MP is casting doubt on Malaysia’s wage goals, questioning whether the push for a RM3,000 minimum wage and RM3,500 median wage by 2030 is truly within reach — or simply an eye-catching target.
Charles Santiago, who previously represented Klang, pointed to the country’s slow wage progression.
Malaysia only introduced a minimum wage in 2013, and it has taken more than a decade to climb to RM1,700.
That pace, he argues, hasn’t kept up with the rising cost of living. As far back as 2018, Bank Negara Malaysia estimated that a single adult in Kuala Lumpur would need around RM2,700 just to meet basic living standards.
For Santiago, that gap highlights a deeper issue.
“The median wage — not just the minimum — is a better reflection of how the average Malaysian worker is faring.”
“If it remains low, it suggests that many are not truly benefiting from the country’s economic progress,” he said on X.
Beyond wages, he also flagged concerns over how growth is distributed.
Currently, compensation for employees accounts for about 33% of GDP, short of the 40% target set under the 13th Malaysia Plan for 2030.
To him, that shortfall raises questions about who is actually gaining from economic expansion.
The government recently reiterated its aim to reach a RM3,000 minimum wage by 2030 as part of broader labour reforms, including efforts to reduce reliance on low-skilled work.
Whether those targets can be achieved — or remain aspirational — is still up for debate. – May 8, 2026
