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'No minimum wage system in Terengganu'

Wednesday, 07 December 2011 09:09am

©The New Straits Times (Used by permission)

THE Terengganu state government has no plan to implement its own minimum wage system.

However, it is ready to follow any directive pertaining to the matter from the Federal Government, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said told the state assembly yesterday.

Ahmad said workers in the state enjoyed a decent gross monthly income compared with those in other states.

In his answer to a supplementary question by Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (Pas-Batu Burok), Ahmad said a driver's basic pay was at least RM1,200 a month, minus allowances as well as other benefits.

"We have been servicing their (state government- linked companies employees') payrolls, including annual bonuses and other remunerations without any problem," Ahmad said.

"We are prepared to abide by any new ruling if the minimum wage bill is passed by Parliament."

Ahmad grew agitated when Syed Azman stood up to inform the house that the Selangor state government allocated RM1.6 billion in annual allocations to its 4.5 million population.

He asked why the (Terengganu) state government only allocated RM1.9 billion to its one million population in its 2012 budget.

Ahmad said the comparison was unfair because the local councils and state-owned companies in Selangor raked in hundreds of millions annually, whereas the district council of Setiu, one of the largest in Terengganu, only made RM100,000 a year.

"You must also consider how many scholarships and sponsorship programmes the state (Terengganu) offers to eradicate poverty and improve the standard of living of the rakyat."

Ahmad added that the opposition only knew how to boast about its four-year stint in Selangor, although the economic infrastructure was built by the Barisan Nasional government.

In Kuantan, T.N Alagesh reports that Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said at the Pahang state assembly that various efforts were being carried out by the state government to create a conducive investment climate for foreign and local investors.

He said as part of the efforts to attract investors, the state government had upgraded infrastructures and basic facilities, especially at industrial areas.

"Efforts are also being done to enhance the role of the Pahang State Development Corporation's one-stop agency by offering more effective services for investors through its online portal (www.investinpahang.gov.my).

"This website allows investors to obtain information and make enquiries online," he said to a question from Wan Salman Wan Ismail (BN-Jengka).

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