Economy Minister Akmal says RM2,000 minimum wage decision rests with PM Anwar in Budget 2027

KLUANG, Sept 28 — Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir says the decision on whether to raise the minimum wage to RM2,000 should be made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in his Budget 2027 presentation. He emphasized the importance of assessing the impact of any wage change, especially on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to guarantee that employers can handle the additional expenses.

At a press conference following a visit to Kluang District Police Headquarters, Akmal addressed concerns raised by economists that a wage increase to RM2,000 could result in higher prices for goods and services. He highlighted that the government was considering the diverse needs of various employers when contemplating any adjustments to the minimum wage.

Additionally, the Federal Government had allocated RM127 million under Rolling Plan 1 (RP1) of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) for the maintenance of police facilities nationwide. This allocation increased from the original RM122 million by RM5 million through a Notice of Change (NOC). Of the total, RM44.35 million was designated for the repair and upkeep of police stations, while RM77.65 million was for the maintenance of 3,716 quarters across the country.

In Kluang, RM3.7 million was allocated, which includes upgrading 10 blocks of quarters and repairing Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) premises under the management of the Kluang District Police Headquarters (IPD).