KUCHING: Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA) has taken exception to Ipoh Barat MP Kulasegaran Murugeson saying Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus’s input on the revised minimum wage policy is shallow and regressive.
SOPPOA chief executive officer Dr Felix Moh Mee Ho said on the contrary it was Kula who was being insensitive, inappropriate and amateurish despite his learned position.
Kula had reacted after Nor Shamsiah stated that the minimum wage policy should be done in an orderly manner to ensure the move will support economic growth while not adding inflation pressure to the country.
“Nor Shamsiah advised that the new minimum wage to be implemented progressively should not be taken lightly,” Moh said in a statement today.
“Being a BNM governor, she is the most competent person to share a professional view on issues that affect the stability of the financial system.
“It cannot be denied that inflation has gone up substantially over the last decades caused by both internal and external factors.”
Towards this end Moh said the Malaysian government had repeatedly raised the minimum wage since 2013 but this was not able to keep up with the ever-rising cost of living.
Moh said it was evident the pandemic has impacted all sectors of the economy.
Many businesses across the country saw their supply chains interrupted, demand for their products and services decline, shortages in supplies and inputs, and government-mandated closures. Hence, thousands of businesses could not live through to today.
“Nevertheless, the business communities agreed that they are morally bound to raise wages to support workers’ well being.
“However, they appealed that this should be implemented in stages over a period of time as suggested by Nor Shamsiah,” he said.
Explaining further, he pointed out that a harsh increase of 25 per cent from the existing minimum wage of RM1,200 to RM1,500 would be detrimental to business as the majority of businesses have not been able to recover yet.
“Though there is one more month to go for the implementation of the new minimum wage, it is never too late for further review and improvement.
“SOPPOA pleads to the Prime Minister to heed the advice of the BNM governor,” he said.
