Latest news with #Hashim
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Earning, but still yearning
AS an office worker, Hashim Mazlan has been dreaming of a higher salary after five years of toiling behind a desk. At a small construction company, he handles everything from clerical duties to minor accounting tasks. For the past six years, he has been earning less than RM4,000 a month. Living costs in Kuala Lumpur consume a large portion of his income. Rent, car payments, and groceries leave him financially strained at the end of each month. 'I'm sure you heard all the stories about living in the city with a low wage. I wish I have a steady income increase in the future. I'm not even sure if the minimum wage can help me. Am I going to earn the same until I retire? Will I have enough when I'm old?' wonders the 30-year-old father of two. Hashim is among the many Malaysians in the B40 (lower income) and M40 (middle income) groups concerned about lifelong low wages. As of March this year, the median monthly wage for formal sector employees in Malaysia stood at RM2,745 according to administrative data from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the Social Security Organisation (Socso), and the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) – this represents roughly 60% of the country's formal workforce. In a recent interview with Sin Chew Daily for a special Media in Arms report on Malaysia's new minimum wage, former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim said Malaysians' real wages have shrunk almost threefold over four decades. He noted that while his starting salary in 1984 was RM1,300, today's graduates are earning only between RM2,000 and RM3,000 – a marginal improvement that fails to keep pace with inflation. Unsurprisingly, lower wages translate into weaker savings. As of 2024, more than 52% of EPF members under age 55 had less than RM10,000 in savings, highlighting widespread financial insecurity. The government has acknowledged the crisis and is introducing measures to address wage and savings issues. These include raising the minimum wage, promoting EPF's monthly budget guide based on locality, and reviewing a proposal to increase the retirement age to 65. But are these steps enough? Experts say more needs to be done – starting with raising real wages. Dignified wage level The ideal, dignified wage for individuals and families with two children should be at least RM5,000 a month, depending on location, says Assoc Prof Dr Aimi Zulhazmi Abdul Rashid, an economist from Universiti Kuala Lumpur's Business School. In a recent interview with Sinar Harian , he referred to DOSM data showing that the average reasonable basic living expenses for a household in 2023 was RM4,729 monthly. Understandably, higher earnings support a more comfortable life and better savings. He notes that urban areas face significantly higher living costs, with monthly household expenses averaging RM5,040 compared with RM3,631 in rural areas. 'The B40, M40, and T20 classifications only reflect gross household income and are certainly not accurate measures for analysing such findings, as they don't take into account the actual cost of living. (T20 are the top 20% of earners.) 'Naturally, the figures vary across states in Malaysia and when comparing urban and rural living costs. Among the contributing economic factors are inflation, often driven by demand and supply dynamics, currency depreciation, and Malaysia's heavy reliance on imported food,' he says. Many Malaysians in the B40 and M40 income groups are concerned about lifelong low wages impacting their retirement savings, especially amid the shrinking value of their salaries. — RAYMOND OOI/ The Star While inflation is reported to be under control, Aimi Zulhazmi points out that incomes have barely increased. He notes that the average monthly wage in Malaysia rose from RM3,087 in 2018 to RM3,224 in 2019. In 2022, wages climbed 5.8% to RM3,212 from RM3,037 in 2021. 'It may look decent on paper, but when compared with DOSM's reasonable basic living expenses of RM4,729 in 2023, it's clear that there's a wide gap. 'Selangor recorded the highest at RM5,854, followed by Perak at RM3,723. This shows that the gap between average wages and reasonable living costs remains significant. 'So the existence of the label 'working but still poor' is not surprising.' Wage hike boost Following the increase in minimum wage from RM1,500 to RM1,700 in February 2025, early indicators suggest improvements among low-income EPF members. Data comparisons before and after the policy shift show the median wage for active formal workers rose 5.6% to RM2,745 in March 2025, from RM2,600 a year earlier, says EPF social policy research head Hawati Abdul Hamid. She adds that 2024 saw a strong performance across the EPF portfolio, with a 1.5% increase in active employers to 614,600 and nearly 500,000 new member registrations. 'Total membership peaked at 16.2 million, with over half being active members. Meanwhile, total contributions increased by 15.0% to RM118bil. These trends underscore healthy labour market conditions and a sustained economic recovery in the post-Covid-19 period.' However, she notes that while early signs are promising, more time is needed to gauge long-term effects. 'We expect this positive momentum to continue into 2025, although it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions about the long-term effects of the minimum wage policy.' Hawati stresses the importance of moving towards a living wage – a wage that supports not just basic survival but a decent standard of living and future financial security. 'We emphasise the importance of achieving a living wage ... as advocated by the GEAR-uP initiative under the Madani economy framework. (Gear-uP is a Finance Ministry-led initiative to leverage government-linked investment companies to boost economic growth.) 'While the EPF is not directly involved in wage-setting, we consistently highlight that wage adjustments aligned with productivity gains are crucial for achieving adequate retirement savings.' Hawati stresses the importanceof moving towards a living wage, one that supports not just basic survival but a decent standard of living and future financial security. She acknowledges that some workers still earn below the minimum wage due to part-time or casual arrangements, not necessarily employer non-compliance. Hawati cites a study by Khazanah Research Institute that found minimum wage policies – first introduced in 2013 and revised four times since – have been the most effective intervention in boosting low-wage workers' earnings and reducing labour market inequality. Longer working years? Extending the retirement age to 65 has been long and widely discussed as a means to improve retirement savings adequacy. In a recent commentary, National Union of Bank Employees general secretary J. Solomon said: 'With the cost of living rising and many Malaysians having alarmingly low EPF balances, extending the retirement age to 65 offers a critical opportunity to build stronger retirement savings. It ensures a more dignified future and improves pension fund sustainability.' Taylor's Business School lecturers Dr Paul Anthony Mariadas and Dr Uma Murthy, in a 2023 commentary, said continued employment beyond age 60 could help individuals save more for retirement. However, it may also hinder career progression for younger workers. 'On the flip side, reduced job opportunities for younger workers can occur when older workers remain in the workforce longer. This can create challenges for younger workers who are entering the workforce or looking for new job opportunities,' they said. The Human Resources Ministry is currently reviewing the proposal to raise the retirement age from 60 to 65. The Malaysian Industrial, Commercial and Service Employers Association (MICSEA) has cautiously welcomed the review; it calls for strategic planning, especially for low-income and manual workers who may not benefit equally from extended employment. 'There should also be stronger statutory protections to protect younger and older workers, ensure fair treatment and improve hiring strategies for younger workers, while ensuring these efforts do not impact aged workers remaining in the workforce,' it said. Ongoing help Still, even if Malaysians work longer, are the current salary structures, especially the national minimum wage, enough to support a sustainable retirement? Hawati says the newly introduced Retirement Income Adequacy (RIA) framework allows EPF members and policymakers to evaluate whether current wage levels are sufficient for long-term retirement goals. 'The RIA framework is aligned with Belanjawanku, an expenditure guide that provides a cost-of-living reference for various household types. By setting clear savings benchmarks – basic, adequate, and enhanced – the framework links income with future needs, offering a practical tool for both individual planning and policy calibration.' She notes that RM390,000 is needed to cover basic post-retirement expenses such as food and essentials. 'This helps members visualise the savings required to meet their living costs, enabling them to work towards achieving sustainable retirement outcomes.' The Account Restructuring initiative introduced in May 2024 has also helped balance short-term needs with long-term adequacy. 'The introduction of the three-account structure contributed to an increase in the share of active formal sector members meeting the basic savings target by age – from 33.1% in December 2023 to 37.1% in December 2024. 'This suggests that a well- calibrated account structure can enhance retirement outcomes without compromising financial flexibility.' Additionally, EPF supports adequacy through real dividend returns. 'Our strategic target of delivering over 2% real dividend growth on a three-year rolling basis helps preserve members' purchasing power. "Together, these efforts – adequate wage calibration, clear savings benchmarks, and real returns – form the foundation for a more secure and inclusive retirement system,' says Hawati. Media in Arms is a media alliance comprising Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily, Malay daily Sinar Harian, Tamil newspaper Malaysia Nanban, local news broadcaster Astro Awani, and The Star.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Kerala NGO breathes fresh life into Koyilandy hookah
KOZHIKODE: In Koyilandy, tucked away in Kerala's Malabar coast, time once stood still with the hiss of hot metal, the scent of molten wax, and the clang of hammer on brass. For over 300 years, this sleepy town has helped shape an extraordinary symbol of cross-cultural legacy, royal indulgence, and skilled craftsmanship passed down like a sacred chant through generations. And, after a period in obscurity and neglect, the Malabar hookah — also known as the Koyilandy hookah — is now seeing a revival, with interest from both domestic and international buyers. These are no ordinary hookahs. Forged by the Mooshari community and finished with oversize coconut shells and ornamental brass work, they were once treasured in the Arabian Peninsula. They graced Bedouin tents and palaces alike, and were carried across the sea by Yemeni traders, who settled in Malabar centuries ago. But history, like smoke, often fades. And so nearly did this craft, until a chance documentary project by The Archival and Research Project (ARPO), a Kerala-based non-profit, unearthed not just an artifact, but a spark of revival. It turned into a mission to rescue a dying art. 'We were documenting the last of the hookah-makers,' says Sruthin Lal, ARPO's executive director. 'But once we saw the beauty of the process and the heartbreak behind its decline, we knew we couldn't walk away.' Rather than lament the loss, the team chose to act. ARPO created a digital presence for the Koyilandy hookah, and offered online promotions, featured it in niche design and heritage media and, more importantly, rebranded it as a luxury collectible steeped in history. This has been good news for 72-year-old Hashim, a long-time exporter who had been sitting on unsold stock after Covid closed international borders. 'I had given up,' he says. 'I thought no one would ever want these again.' Within months, however, Hashim sold dozens of hookahs. Buyers ranged from industrialists and authors to an ambassador and a Padma Bhushan awardee. The Malabar hookah was back not as a mass product, but as a timeless heirloom.
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
‘Many people panicking': Singaporean in Doha recounts seeing Iran's missiles as US base was attacked
Hashim Sidek was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson's first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base. - Hashim Sidek, Reuters via ST/ANN SINGAPORE: Hashim Sidek was in a shopping mall in Doha with his wife, daughter-in-law and grandson when missiles suddenly appeared in the sky on June 23. The 64-year-old Singaporean was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson's first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East. 'Suddenly, some people were running towards the door that leads to the carpark,' he told The Straits Times on June 24. They went outside, where Hashim said he saw 'two missiles in the sky being destroyed by another two missiles'. 'We rushed to our Uber driver's car that we hailed through the app,' he added. 'Many people were outside already, panicking and also looking at the sky to see the missiles.' He and his family managed to get into the car and went straight back to his daughter-in-law's apartment, he said. Hashim, a tennis coach, and his wife arrived in Doha on June 22. Their son, a pilot with Qatar Airways, is arranging for them to return to Singapore sooner. Hashim and his wife hope to fly home on June 25. 'We are actually cutting our trip here short,' said Hashim. 'It was supposed to be for two weeks but we decided to go back at the earliest opportunity.' Hashim said they were anxious to go home, but are now feeling a bit calmer. On June 23, Iran launched attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in retaliation against the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities on June 21. There were no reported injuries, and on June 23, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, which had exchanged air strikes since June 13. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
‘Many people panicking': Singaporean in Doha recounts seeing Iran's missiles as US base was attacked
Mr Hashim Sidek was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson's first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HASHIM SIDEK, REUTERS 'Many people panicking': Singaporean in Doha recounts seeing Iran's missiles as US base was attacked Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - Mr Hashim Sidek was in a shopping mall in Doha with his wife, daughter-in-law and grandson when missiles suddenly appeared in the sky on June 23. The 64-year-old Singaporean was in Qatar to celebrate his grandson's first birthday when Iran launched air strikes on the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American military installation in the Middle East. 'Suddenly, some people were running towards the door that leads to the car park,' he told The Straits Times on June 24 . They went outside, where Mr Hashim said he saw 'two missiles in the sky being destroyed by another two missiles'. 'We rushed to our Uber driver's car that we hailed through the app,' he added. 'Many people were outside already, panicking and also looking at the sky to see the missiles.' They managed to get in the car and went straight back to their daughter-in-law's apartment, he said. Mr Hashim, a tennis coach, and his wife arrived in Doha on June 22 . Their son, a pilot with Qatar Airways, is arranging for them to return to Singapore sooner. The couple hopes to fly back on June 25 . 'We are actually cutting our trip here short,' said Mr Hashim. 'It was supposed to be for two weeks but we decided to go back at the earliest opportunity.' Mr Hashim said they were anxious to go home, but are now feeling a bit calmer. On June 23, Iran launched attacks on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, in retaliation against the US strikes on the country's nuclear facilities on June 21. There were no reported injuries and US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the Iran and Israel, who had exchanged air strikes since June 13, shortly after. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Star
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
‘Traumatised': 65-year-old man injured by falling concrete in toilet of Yishun HDB home in Singapore
The incident left Mohamad Hashim Arshad with more than 10 stitches on his head and injuries to his shoulder and knee. - Photos: Siti Nurhashikin SINGAPORE: A 65-year-old man was injured after getting hit by concrete that fell from his Housing Board flat's toilet ceiling on Thursday (June 19). The incident left Mohamad Hashim Arshad, a retiree, with more than 10 stitches on his head and injuries to his shoulder and knee. He was discharged from hospital on the evening of June 20, his daughter Siti Nurhashikin told The Straits Times, adding that he was 'really, really traumatised'. The spalling concrete in the master bedroom toilet of the three-room flat gave way at about 4.30am when Hashim was preparing for morning prayers, she said. 'While he was sitting on the toilet bowl, the ceiling suddenly collapsed without any warning, and the concrete fell on him,' said Siti, a 34-year-old housewife. Her father has multiple health issues and is also on blood-thinning medication. In a Facebook post on June 20, Nee Soon GRC MP K. Shanmugam said that he has spoken with Hashim's wife, and told her that assistance would be rendered to the family, including the payment for repair works. Shanmugam, who is Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, added that his volunteers are coordinating with HDB and the Town Council on this matter. Siti told ST that her father's ground-floor unit and his neighbour's unit directly above him had not undergone any renovations recently. They had also not noticed any signs of wear and tear in the toilet, nor were there any prior incidents. In response to ST's queries, HDB said Hashim's unit in Yishun Street 11 was built 41 years ago and was upgraded under the Housing Board's Home Improvement Programme in 2018. It will be assisting the flat's owners under the Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme, where HDB will subsidise 50 per cent of the cost. The remaining cost of repairs will be borne by the resident, as flat owners have a responsibility for maintaining their flats. It added the case has been referred to local grassroots leaders for assistance. HDB said it sent officers to investigate after the incident and inspections showed slight bulging of concrete in the kitchen bathroom. While there is no imminent spalling of concrete at the kitchen bathroom's ceiling, it has arranged for contractors to remove the bulging concrete 'for the residents' peace of mind and safety', it said. Spalling concrete occurs through carbonation, a natural deterioration process that causes steel reinforcement bars in the ceiling to corrode and the concrete to crack, particularly in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms and kitchens, said HDB. 'To help prevent such incidents, when any visible signs of cracks or holes start appearing, residents should seal them promptly, and also paint their ceilings regularly to prevent moisture and carbon dioxide from entering the concrete,' it said. 'As a humid environment will speed up carbonation, residents are also encouraged to provide for the proper ventilation of any moisture-prone areas by opening the windows, vents or doors to reduce when these areas are not in use. Such regular care and maintenance by residents will help to keep the flats in good condition.' - The Straits Times/ANN
