Raise Malaysians' minimum wage first before Indonesian maids' - Perkasa

Raise the minimum wage to RM1,200 to help the people face the rising cost of living first before considering raising the salary of Indonesian maids, said Pertubuhan Pri­­bumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

He urged the government to prioritise the people following their worries about the increasing cost of goods and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax.

"If the government wants to consider the needs of foreign housemaids by raising their minimum salary to RM1,200, the minimum pay of Malaysians must also start with RM1,200.

"It does not necessarily mean that we must accept, when Indonesia suggested that the salary of their maids be raised to RM1,200 from RM800. What we can give them at the highest, is RM1,000. Make Malaysians happy first before we make foreigners happy," he told reporters after delivering a speech at a Perkasa function in Chendering near here Saturday.

According to Ibrahim, the call was in line with the Malay right-wing movement's suggestion previously to the government that the minimum wage be raised to RM1,200 from RM900.

Ibrahim was asked to comment on a proposal paper sent by Indonesia to the Human Resources Ministry on improving the work conditions of Indonesian maids in Malaysia, including raising the salary to RM1,200.

READ: Raise cost of hiring Indonesian maids - PIKAP