Govt increase income from RM1,500 to RM4,000 per month

PETALING JAYA: The Government is taking steps to increase the average household income from about RM1,500 to RM4,000 per month.

The Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) said this was necessary to keep up with the rising rate of inflation.

Its National Key Result Areas and National Key Economic Areas director D. Ravindran said this during The Star's “Protect Our Pockets” roundtable on the rising cost of living on Tuesday.

He added that various initiatives under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) were formulated to address the problem of uneven income distribution to transform the nation into a developed one within 10 years.

Other panellists at the roundtable were Malaysian Retailers-Chains Associations secretary-general Valerie Choo, Carrefour marketing communications (Singapore and Malaysia) director Low Ngai Yuen, Pemandu senior manager Phillip See and The Star's executive editor Datuk Wong Sai Wan.

Wong said young Malaysians shied away from working here as they were not paid enough.

“The private sector, which employs most of the workforce, should take the lead in initiating a pay increase,” he said when responding to the issue of brain drain in Malaysia.

He also suggested that instead of relying on foreign workers, the Government could also consider hiring capable senior citizens.

Asked how Carrefour handled the income gap between foreign and local talents, Low said the company had a standardised pay structure.

“The good news is Malaysians get an increase in salary based on the foreign talents we bring in. We do not want to see a big difference in salary between a senior and junior manager,” she said.