KUALA LUMPUR: The national minimum wage will be revised to RM1,500 beginning May 1, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       The Prime Minister said the government is cognisant of the increase in cost of living and its effects, especially on the B40 community.

       “I listened to the debates raised by delegates and the grouses of the people.

       “Therefore, I would like to announce that the minimum wage of RM1,500 a month will begin on May 1 nationwide,” he said during his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly here yesterday.

       Ismail Sabri, who is also Umno vice-president, said discussions between the relevant ministries will be held to look into delaying the implementation of the policy for small and micro businesses with low income or revenue.

       Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan had told Dewan Rakyat recently that the RM1,500 minimum wage would be implemented in due time, with the government committed to enforcing it by the end of this year.

       Ismail Sabri also said the country will make it compulsory for foreign students to learn Bahasa Malaysia in a move to uplift the language.

       “There is no reason to feel awkward speaking Bahasa Malaysia when at an international stage.

       “There are more than 300 million people in South-East Asia speaking the language, and it is the seventh most widely used in the world.

       “It is my ambition to make Bahasa Malaysia the second official language of Asean,” he added.

       On another matter, Ismail Sabri also stressed the protection given to women, including in alimony cases they have won in court.

       “We have decided that banks would freeze the accounts of former husbands who do not pay alimony.

       “After the ruling has been obtained, the bank will make a direct deduction from the ex-husband’s account.

       “For example, if the rate is RM1,000, the bank will deduct it directly and (give it) to the former wife,” he said.

       Ismail Sabri added that recently widowed women would be allowed to work from home during edah (a period of four months and 10 days where they cannot remarry) and employers cannot force them to work from the office during that period.

       The Prime Minister also reiterated that the government would always stand firm in upholding and defending the country’s sovereignty and Sabah’s position in Malaysia.

       “We will file applications in court in Paris, France to set aside whatever claims made by the Sulu Sultan,” he said.

       “As a party which fought for independence, Umno will never pawn the country’s sovereignty to those who are daydreaming,” he said.