Government's proposal to increase minimum wage can have negative impact on quality of life of workers, says PBK president

KUCHING, Oct 11 2026: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has said the federal government's proposal to increase the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 can have negative impact on the quality of life of the workers.

Caption: PBK president Voon Lee Shan says it is remembered that not every business is a large corporation with strong profits

He said it will lead to small traders, family businesses, hawkers, contractors, and small manufacturers to operate on thin margins.

He said a sudden increase in labour costs may push some of them to close, reduce employment, or avoid hiring new workers, hurting the very people the policy is meant to help.

"We must remember that not every business is a large corporation with strong profits," he said when reacting to an announcement by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim his the federal 2027 Budget speech in Parliament last Friday.

He said he does not mean that the workers should remain poor, adding that Sarawakians deserve fair wages, decent work, and a better standard of living. 

"But wage policy must be balanced. It must consider productivity, business capacity, regional differences, and the real cost of living," Voon said.

He stressed the way forward is not simply to force wages upward, saying: "We must help businesses grow, improve workers’ skills, raise productivity, reduce unnecessary costs, and ensure that economic growth reaches ordinary families. 

"When businesses grow, they can pay better wages without cutting jobs or passing every cost to consumers.

"A strong economy is not built by making it harder for businesses to survive. It is built by creating jobs, supporting enterprise, and ensuring that both workers and employers can move forward together," Voon said.

When tabling the federal 2027 Budget, Anwar said the increase in the minimum wage from RM1,700 to RM2,000 will take effect June 2027.

He said micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with annual revenues of less than RM50 million would be exempted from the increase to give them time to adapt their business models.

He added the gap between workers’ productivity and wages must be narrowed, as the cost-of-living burden stems from incomes failing to keep pace with rising prices.

Anwar said more than four million workers will be covered by the new minimum wage rate.

He said the government will also introduce a minimum monthly salary of RM2,500 for semi-skilled workers and graduates as a starting point, as part of reforms to the country’s wage framework.

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly likely to be dissolved soon after PBB Southern Zone Convention on November 15?

It is a certainty that Sarawak will hold its 13th state election by the end of this year to elect a new members of the State Legislative Assembly (SLA). It goes without saying.

Caption: Sarawak State Legislative Assembly building.  The dissolution of SLA likely comes after PBB Southern Zone special convention has taken place on November 15, 2026 in Kuching

The current term of the SLA expires in February next year.

If it is not dissolved earlier, the SLA will automatically dissolve itself upon the expiry date and after which election must be called within 60 years to elect a new set of SLMs. This is what is mandated under the State Constitution.

The October 12-21 sitting of the current term of the SLA may be its last before the state election is called.

In the last state election, polling day took place on Dec 18 2021. The previous assembly was dissolved on Nov 3, 2021.

If it is not due to the expiry, the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has no major reasons to call for the election. The coalition is fundamentally strong and stable. Sarawak's economy is robust.
Generally speaking, the business community has no reason to be unhappy and so are the ordinary rakyat. In other words, GPS has done its best for Sarawak and its people.

Some political pundits have analyzed that it would not be surprising if the ruling GPS sweeps almost the 82 state seats up for grabs.

So there is no cause for concern for them.

The opposition parties, on the other hand, are weak, except for the state DAP whose presence is only felt in the urban areas, like Kuching and Sibu. Parti Bumi Kenyalang, Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak and even PKR are not likely to pose a strong challenge to the GPS.

December is a good time to hold the state election. It is forecast to be a dry month, unlike in the previous years.

According to a forecast by the MetMalaysia and quoted by Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, El Nino phenomenon is expected to persist until February 2027, causing hot and dry conditions in Satawak and other parts of Southeast Asia.

If the forecast is accurate, then November right to January next year will be "dry" months.

After studying all the factors into consideration, it is possible that Premier Abang Johari Openg may then advise the Sarawak Governor to dissolve SLA in the third quarter of November.

The dissolution likely comes after PBB Southern Zone special convention has taken place on November 15, 2026 in Kuching.

The southern zone convention is the last to be organised by PBB after the ones held in central region, Betong and northern region this year. These special conventions were directed to be organised by the party convention held on Feb 14-16 this year.

Allowing all parties to prepare themselves, the Election Commission (EC) is likely to fix one of the days in the third quarter of December as a polling day.

Holding the state election in December (a month which is supposed to be the wettest month of the year) is nothing new.

The first was held on December 28 and 29, 1983 with a nomination date December 8 1983.

So, are we expecting to go to the polls in the third quarter of December?

Sarawak recorded 476 new breast cancer cases last year, says Fatimah

KUCHING:, Oct 11 2026: Sarawak recorded 476 new breast cancer cases last year, alongside 471 cases of colorectal cancer, out of 2,995 new cancer cases in the state in 2025.

 

Caption: Minister Fatimah Abdullah (second from left) says breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Malaysia

Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Fatimah Abdullah said the figures show that both cancers remain among the most frequently recorded in Sarawak.

Citing the National Cancer Registry Report 2017–2021, she said breast cancer was the most common cancer among women in Malaysia, while colorectal cancer was also among the country's leading cancers.

"Know your risk. Get screened. Detect early. Treat early. And never lose hope," she said.

She said this while officiating at the Pink Blue Walk 2026 – Breast Cancer & Colorectal Cancer Awareness at the Sarawak State Library here on Sunday.

The programme aimed to raise public awareness of both cancers, stressing the importance of early detection, timely screening and prompt medical treatment.

Dato Sri Fatimah said cancer should not be seen solely as a medical issue, as it also affects families, communities and society as a whole.

"The Pink Blue Walk is more than just a walking event. It is a journey that carries a message, from awareness to action, from fear to courage and from late detection to early detection," she said.

She said the walk was held not only for participants' own health but also in solidarity with those undergoing treatment, cancer survivors, families who had lost loved ones and future generations.

She also conveyed her support to cancer patients and survivors, assuring them that they are not alone.

Also present were Sarawak Women and Family Department (JWKS) Director Sharifah Zakiah Tuanku Pauzi, Dr Khairul Rizzuan representing the Sarawak State Health Department (JKNS) Director, Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Director Dr Ngian Hie Ung, Head of the Department of Surgery at SGH Dr Siow Sze Li and other guests. -UKASnews