THE government will set aside money to help raise the salaries of workers in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

He said the cabinet has discussed the plan after taking into account instances of highly profitable companies which refuse to raise their employees’ wages.

“Therefore, we have made a proposal and are in the final stages of the study. We cannot force the companies to raise their workers’ wages but we can use mechanisms such as the minimum wage,” said Anwar, who is also the finance minister.

“I want to tell you, brothers and sisters, we have come up with a surprising proposal that was not thought of by PN (Perikatan Nasional).

“We will provide a sum of RM1 billion to RM2 billion to find a way to raise salaries.”

The funds could enable a worker who earned RM2,000 to get RM2,200, he said.

Anwar was speaking in Kuala Selangor last night.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the federal government would be able to better focus on national development if the Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional alliance could keep Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang and win a couple more states in the elections.

“I am confident that if we can strengthen the Selangor government, win in style in Negri Sembilan and Penang, and penetrate one or two more states, (we would be able to) focus on the development of the country.

“We don’t have much time left. Please save ourselves, don’t be careless; this is about saving ourselves, our family, our state and our country,” he said.

Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Terengganu, and Kelantan vote tomorrow.  – Bernama, August 11, 2023.