SUCCC: Not the time for higher minimum wage

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) President Datuk Gan Sau Wah hoped the government will consider not to increase the minimum wage for employees, at least not till the country's economy has improved."Personally, I disagree with the plan to increase the minimum wage among employees and this should only be done when business has improved, not to mention the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as well as the current weakening ringgit," he said at his office in Wisma Pendidikan here, Monday.

He said the implementation would do no good to small-time traders and will result in a hike of prices of goods, affecting the community as a whole.

"Let's say for example, these traders used to have ten employees, however, due to the hike in the minimum wage, they have to reduce the number of their employees.

"How do you think small-time traders will gain the income to pay for the minimum wage of their employees? Obviously, it is through increasing the prices of their goods," he said, adding therefore, to be fair, it (minimum wage) should be applied but depending on the type of jobs.

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However, Gan said the increase in minimum wage would definitely assist the government in developing the nation apart from attracting foreign workers.

"We all must be aware that Sabah is unlike other major cities in other countries and we cannot compare ourselves with the rest," he added.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when tabling the Budget 2016 earlier on Friday had announced that the minimum wage in peninsula will increase from RM900 to RM1, 000 whereas in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan will increase from RM800 to RM920.

The minimum wage will go up by RM100 to RM120 starting from July 2016.

Later, Gan also commented on the actions of some Chinese ministers who he said failed to think about the interests of the Chinese community.

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"This sort of ministers who have the intention to only 'curry favour' with the government and neglect the interests of the people do not deserve the people's support.

"Therefore, I hope Chinese ministers will not be too quick to support all the government policies and sacrifice the interests of the Chinese community," he said, thanking Special Tasks Minister Datuk Teo Chee Kang for standing up for the Chinese community.

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