KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 17): Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah hopes the mid-term review of the 11th Malaysia Plan that will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow, will address the issue of economic disparity between the rich and the poor. 

“We hope that they (government) can reduce the household income gap between the rich and the poor," Razaleigh (BN-Gua Musang) told reporters at the Parliament lobby today. "We have been through this situation for so long and we see that the income gap is getting wider."

"This is a concern for us, not only because it is getting wider, but also because it is linked to the economic standing of the country,” he added.

Razaleigh also commented on the protest organised by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and other groups this morning, calling for the government to review the monthly minimum wage of RM1,050.

“We see protests after protests, because the minimum wage demanded by MTUC has not been met. That is why we think that we should give special attention to the B40 group, because it is getting more difficult to live with the rising cost of living. 

“If the previous government was rejected by the people because the cost of living was too high, compared to the salary that they were getting, then now it is time for the new government to try and find a way to change the situation to ease the burden borne by the people in B40 (bottom 40% income) group,” he added. 

Razaleigh said he is concerned, as there seems to be no effort by the government to modernize the way industries work. 

“More developed countries have adopted not only mechanisation, but have also used robotics and artificial intelligence in order to increase the productivity and income of the nation,” he said. 

“The government must establish a mechanisation programme that can propel our industries forward with the use of high technology, in order to increase the nation’s income and employment opportunities for the youth who we hope will become catalyst for our future economy,” Razaleigh added.