(Source: Kosmo)
The government’s announcement of a RM1,700 minimum wage, while providing some relief, is still insufficient to cover the rising cost of living in major cities, especially for young people.
A survey by Utusan Malaysia found that a large number of workers have had to drastically change their lifestyles, including taking on two jobs, bringing packed meals to work, cooking at home, and postponing marriage in order to save money to survive in metropolitan areas.
“I need 2 jobs to survive in the city”
Mohammad Noriman Ahmad Zarkhoni, 22, works two jobs, including as a food delivery rider and a factory operator.
He said his income as a delivery rider is only around RM1,500, while his monthly commitments exceed that amount.
He admitted that it is tiring but said he has no choice but to do two jobs at the same time.
“Time management is very important to avoid feeling stressed. So far, I can still cope. However, I hope improvements can be made to the minimum wage, especially since the cost of living in the capital city is not the same as in rural areas,” he said.
“I had to postpone my wedding”
Muhd Rafiq Ridzuan Zainatul Rahman, 25, has had to postpone his dream of getting married because his monthly income as a food delivery rider is not enough to save for wedding expenses.
He said he still intends to get married, but knowing his savings are far from enough, he chooses to save up first to cover all the costs of the wedding.
“I think postponing is better for now because of the rising cost of living. I need to work for quite some time to accumulate enough savings,” he said.
“I can’t afford new clothes”
Nurain Syamila Mohd Zamri, 24, has also decided to delay all non-essential spending, including buying clothes and electronic gadgets.
She said she brings packed meals to the office and avoids buying sweet drinks, which are more expensive.
“Besides food, I avoid spending on unnecessary things. The current minimum wage is still not enough. It should be increased to between RM2,000 and RM2,500,” she said.
“I can’t afford eating out”
Meanwhile, Amirul Haziq Ahmad Husainy, 23, who works as a sales assistant at a shopping mall, said his income of only about RM1,700 a month is not enough, so he has to bring his own meals to work.
“Everything is expensive now, so I have reduced eating out at restaurants or food stalls. Instead, I cook at home to save money,” he said.
Thaqif Adib Marozi, 23, also cooks and brings food to work.
However, he only cooks during the weekends due to his busy work schedule, which does not allow him to prepare a variety of dishes in one go.
“On weekdays, I only eat once a day and buy the cheapest food available. I hope the prices of raw ingredients will not increase since they are basic food sources, but the opposite is happening. Not only is ready-to-eat food expensive, but even raw ingredients at the market are going up in price,” he said.
Nurkhairulaiman Najmi Md Kareen, 23, a sales executive, has to spend as little as possible, including only buying eggs as his main food source. He hopes the government will ensure that the prices of raw ingredients are controlled so that people like him will not be burdened just by food costs.
During the presentation of Budget 2025 last October, the government announced an increase in the minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700 starting August 1 as part of an economic restructuring measure to allow the people to enjoy more meaningful incomes, covering all employers.
These personal accounts shed light on the daily realities faced by many young Malaysians in urban areas. While the recent increase in the minimum wage offers some relief, the experiences of these individuals highlight the ongoing challenges of balancing income with the ever-rising cost of living in major cities.
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