Belanjawan 2027 perlu tangani isu gaji rendah, kata bekas Ahli Parlimen

Former Malaysian MP Charles Santiago from the DAP has called for the 2027 budget to address low wages and the fact that Malaysians are yet to benefit from economic growth. According to a study by the Khazanah Research Institute, 70% of Malaysians do not feel the impact of economic growth. He also referred to data from the Department of Statistics showing that two out of three wage earners in Malaysia work in skilled or semi-skilled jobs, with median salaries of RM2,223 and RM1,758 respectively.

Santiago noted that even though Malaysia's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth have increased, the people will not enjoy prosperity unless wage growth can keep pace with the rising cost of living. "The economy may grow, but their household finances are not necessarily getting better. This is the question that 2027's budget must answer: When will economic growth finally translate into household income and a stronger financial safety net?"

Santiago, who once served as MP for Klang for three terms, made this statement in an X post. He urged the government to introduce a serious wage strategy, strengthen social protection, and take action against rising living costs, rather than just one-off handouts. Santiago emphasized that October 9 should be the day to make housing prosperity the cornerstone of the economy, referring to the date for the government's budget announcement.

On August 23, Communications and Multimedia Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that the 2027 budget would focus on measures to reduce the pressure from rising living costs. He said the preparation of the budget would take into account various factors, including global crude oil prices.