Bersama has argued that while raising the minimum wage might make for an “attractive headline” in Putrajaya’s Budget 2027, the measure alone is unlikely to solve Malaysia’s structural low-wage issues.

The party’s statement came amid debate over the government’s proposal in Budget 2027 to raise the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 in June 2027, while temporarily exempting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with annual sales below RM50 million.

In a joint statement today, Bersama co-leader Lee Chean Chung and spokesperson Sum Dek Joe cautioned that the measure could create unequal wage protection and loopholes, as businesses approaching the RM50 million threshold will be incentivised to split their operations to remain exempt.