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MEF: Higher minimum wage mainly benefits foreigners

Oct 24, 2019

The Malaysian Employers Federation says the increased minimum wage mainly benefits foreigners.

Image: FMT

It says foreign workers make up 95% of the beneficiaries, but the burden of the higher wage will be borne by locals. 

MEF's president quoted a Bank Negara report showing that when the minimum wage was raised to RM1,050 a month two years ago, remittances by foreign workers to their home countries almost doubled. 

As such, it suggested the government offer subsidy payments to help the poor instead. 

Under Budget 2020, the minimum wage was raised to RM1,200 in major cities.

Have a comprehensive terror list

The government has been called to compile a comprehensive list of groups it considers terrorist organisations, and to make this list available to the public. 

Image: Reuters

Rights group SUARAM says this is to ensure those arrested under SOSMA are genuine supporters of terrorism. 

It argued that many of those arrested under the controversial act are only 'soft supporters', and have no comprehensive knowledge or information about the groups they are backing.

SUARAM also pointed out that when I.S. first surfaced, many were unaware it was a terrorist group. 

12 people, including two assemblymen are currently under SOSMA detention for allegedly supporting the LTTE terror group.

HK pulls controversial bill

Hong Kong has formally withdrawn a controversial extradition bill that had sparked five months of often violent protests in the city. 

The bill would have allowed for criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. 

However, protesters have indicated they will not stop their demonstrations because another four of their demands have yet to be met. 

Image: Reuters

They include amnesty for arrested protesters and an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality.