Govt still not paying their interns, says Syed Saddiq

KUALA LUMPUR: Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has questioned why some interns at government ministries and agencies are still not receiving any pay.

“Until today, I receive messages from youths interning at these ministries and agencies who do not get a single sen of pay,” he said during Parliament Question Time on Wednesday (May 24).

He said that in 2019 the government made it compulsory for all ministries and agencies to pay those undergoing their internships.

Syed Saddiq also said that the government had raised the allowances for paid internships in each federal ministry, government agency and department from RM300 to between RM850 to RM900.

“Even when the government changed, there were no amendments to the then Cabinet decision.

“There was also a circular on this issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government,” Syed Saddiq said.

In response, Deputy Human Resources Minister Mustapha Sakmud acknowledged the matter, adding that it served as a reminder to all government ministries or agencies providing internship programmes.

“There is still no Act to ensure it is compulsory for an intern to get a salary. We will take this into account and bring it up for discussion in the ministry,” he said.