Hey, the minimum wage in Malaysia went up to RM1700 this year, and everyone acted like it was the turning point for the rakyat. Like finally, the country decided to give us a breather. Nope, they didn’t.
It felt like a joke. Rent’s up. Groceries are out of control. Even sardines, the literal “struggle food”, now cost like an indulgence food. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but a minimum wage shouldn’t mean minimum survival. It should at least cover the basics of living like a functioning adult, not just surviving off instant noodles and anxiety. LOL
Let’s do a quick grocery run with RM10:
• 1 tin of decent taste sardines: RM10
• 1 loaf of bread: RM4.30 (i think)
• Eggs? Forget it, not unless you’re buying two. And even then, they might be cracked.
You can’t even cook a proper meal with RM10 anymore. Not unless your definition of a “meal” is boiled rice with hopes and prayers.
Now Let’s Talk About the UK
Minimum wage in the UK is currently £12.21 per hour. PER. HOUR.
Let’s say someone works full-time (40 hours a week), that’s £1,900+ per month.
And guess what? Their groceries are still cheaper than ours.
• 1kg pasta: £01.51
• Canned tomatoes: £0.45
• Frozen vegetables: £1
• Cheese slices: £2
• White Bread: £0.55
For under £10 (around RM60), you could prep meals for a few days. Meanwhile, in Malaysia, RM60 gets you a basic grocery haul that won’t last past Wednesday.
Let’s Do the Math (Warning: It Hurts)
Image by freepik
Minimum wage in Malaysia: RM1700/month
That’s about RM60/day.
Your daily breakdown might look like:
• Meals (RM8 x 3): RM24
• Transport: RM5–10 (ada lagi ke?)
• Rent: Let’s say RM600/month = RM20/day (Assuming you’re renting a shared room in KL)
Total: RM52–57 per day. You’re already in the red and you haven’t even factored in shampoo, period pads, a sudden Grab ride, or God forbid, a treat for yourself. And people still wonder why Malaysians are deep in PayLater, personal loans, and burnout.
“But At Least You Have a Job”
This is the part where people start gaslighting you.
“Be grateful.”
“Other countries also got inflation.”
“You shouldn’t eat out so much.”
Ma’am, I’m not eating out. I’m buying sardin dalam tin and roti je. And that already eats up my weekly food budget. Eggs are political now. Literally nothing is cheap. Except maybe your advice. LOL
So What’s the Plan?
Honestly, no idea. I didn’t write this to offer a solution. I just needed to get it out of my system before I start selling my organs on Shopee. But here’s what I do know: It’s not about increasing the minimum wage every now and then just for show. It’s about making sure people can live on it. A livable wage only matters if the cost of living is fair, too. Otherwise, we’re just playing catch-up with a system that keeps moving the goalpost while pretending it’s helping.
And if you’re wondering…yes, I’ve stood in the middle of Speedmart calculating which sardine tin gives the best gram-to-ringgit ratio. Yes, I’ve walked out with nothing because the maths didn’t math. So if you’re doing the same,you’re not alone. And no, it’s not your fault. The system just isn’t built for us to breathe.
Good luck and thanks for reading.