KINABATANGAN: Weak enforcement of minimum wage regulations remains one of the most pressing issues affecting Sabahans, says Barisan Nasional’s Kinabatangan parliamentary candidate Naim Kurniawan Moktar.
He said the gap between the minimum wage and the salary offered had become more apparent as villagers migrated to urban areas for work, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement by the government.
“Enforcement must be in place to ensure that every entity and every business follows the minimum wage guidelines so that economic returns can be channelled back to the people and circulated back to the government.
If I am given the mandate, I will raise this issue,” he said when met a walkabout session in Pulau Tanjung Aru, Sandakan on Sunday (Jan 11).
Naim said addressing such bread-and-butter issues was crucial in gaining public confidence.
He noted that political dynamics had shifted significantly, with voters aged 40 and below making up close to 59% of the electorate following the implementation of Undi18.
Naim said job opportunities in villages remained limited, forcing many residents to rely on small-scale businesses and informal economic activities to sustain their livelihoods.
He said discussions had been held with Deputy Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Muhammad Alamin.
He said Alamin had assured him that his ministry would step up enforcement efforts and expand access to microloans for small traders.
“This is to ensure that the businesses they run can grow and generate income beyond the minimum wage level,” he said.
