Govt to help businesses cope with minimum wage — CM

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government will look into helping state businesses cope with the much welcomed standardization of minimum wage throughout the nation, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Shafie welcomed Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s assurance that the federal government would provide fair treatment towards the development of East Malaysian states and noted the lower old minimum wage for East Malaysia did not match with the Sabah cost of living that is higher compared to the Peninsular Malaysian states.

“I understand that there is a little pressure from entrepreneurs from the Sabah state level. Perhaps their capabilities, and we need to make sure that these things can be resolved and overcome,” he said after officiating at the Jobfair 5.0 Carnival at a mall here yesterday.

“I hope this will enable the increase in minimum wages (in Sabah) to attract many of our children to work. Sometimes they are attracted to work because of the higher wages. If the pay is still static, it’s hard to pull people to work,” he added.

Shafie acknowledged Mahathir’s recent statement that the population of Sabah is smaller compared to the total of population in all the 11 Peninsular Malaysian states may warrant the concern of investment return and full utilization of infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak.

The Prime Minister assured that the government would give fair treatment to Sabah and Sarawak and would not differentiate between policy and development implementation in Sabah and Sarawak with those in the peninsula states.

“However, Sabah is bigger in size. But what is important, I think we cannot deprive our people from having the very necessity. Treated water in a very remote area, like Long Pasia. Better education system in Long Pasia. Better road, hospital and education. I know it’s an investment that we want a return on but we also have to save these people,” said Shafie.

“But I am so glad that YAB Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad already pledged that change will be done and what has been spelt out, previously will be fulfilled. I think this is in line with what we have been saying before the election,” emphasized Shafie.

When it comes to state’s rights, the Chief Minister reiterated that promises had already been pledged to Sabah.

“Promise has already been done. What is important, the faster the better. But, of course, it has to be installed into all sorts of system. Give them some time. I am quite sure, the important thing is that it is going to be done,” said Shafie.

On Saturday in a dialogue session during the Congress on the Future of Bumiputera and the Nation, the Prime Minister touched on the implementation of policy and development in Sabah and Sarawak.

Dr Mahathir assured that the government would provide fair treatment to Sabah and Sarawak and will not differentiate the two states with those in Peninsular Malaysia.

Meanwhile, on the job carnival, Shafie said 2,000 job opportunities were offered from various sectors and categories.

The programme, being organised by Sabah Labour Department, will tour to several locations starting from Kota Kinabalu today to Kudat, Kota Marudu, Ranau and ends in Keningau on Sept 6.