LETTER | A recent media report that some 70.2 percent of Malaysian workers earn RM5,000 a month or less has triggered intense discussions.

Many were struck by how large this group is, and questioned why incomes have not kept pace with rising costs of living.

These are pertinent questions. For many households, drawing a salary of RM5,000 or slightly less may sound reasonable on paper.

However, once housing, transport, food, childcare, insurance, education, and support for elderly parents are taken into account, there may not be very much left at the end of the month - if at all.

This is especially so if one were to live in or near urban areas like Bukit Bintang, where I am active in community work.

But beyond the question of how much salary is enough lies a deeper issue: why do so many workers earn below that RM5,000 threshold in the first place?

Malaysians are not lazy

Generally, most Malaysians are not lazy; they are, in fact, hardworking, with many taking on more than one job to supplement their incomes. Yet, upward mobility feels increasingly difficult for many.

This challenge is reflected in official statistics. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the median monthly wage of formal sector employees stood at RM3,167 in December 2025, while even in Kuala Lumpur, which recorded the highest median wage in the country, the figure was RM4,391.

These numbers help explain why many workers continue to feel financially stretched despite being employed full-time.

Many households feel that wage increases have not kept pace with rising living costs, particularly in urban areas.

This creates a sense that people are moving, but not necessarily progressing, with many feeling excluded from sharing in the country’s broader economic gains.

Take Bukit Bintang, where I am more familiar. It is one of Malaysia’s most vibrant economic areas, surrounded by upscale malls, five-star hotels, fancy restaurants, and modern offices.

Yet behind the hive of activity are the workers who make it all possible, from retail staff and junior executives to delivery riders and small traders, many of whom have yet to benefit fully from the prosperity they help create.

This is not unique to Bukit Bintang as it reflects a wider national concern. Growth must not only be visible in buildings, investments, and headline numbers but be felt in the lives of ordinary workers.

A structural problem

The RM5,000 figure should therefore not be viewed merely as a wage issue. It points to something deeper: a structural problem in how Malaysia creates, distributes, and rewards economic value.

This is why we must ensure that young Malaysians can build careers, not just earn incomes.

For example, right now, underemployment remains a concern, with many youngsters, including diploma and degree holders, working in jobs that do not fully match their qualifications or potential.

Some graduates have turned to gig-economy roles such as delivery services while seeking opportunities that better match their qualifications.

This concern is reflected in Malaysia's graduate underemployment data. DOSM reported that 1.6 million graduates were employed below their qualification levels in 2024, while skill-related underemployment remained above 30 percent.

More recently, DOSM's Labour Market Review showed that about 35.5 percent of diploma and degree holders were working in semi-skilled or low-skilled occupations that did not fully utilise their qualifications.

The way forward is not simply to help workers survive on RM5,000 a month or less. The real goal must be to help more Malaysians move beyond it.

This requires serious focus on training and upskilling, especially in areas linked to the future economy like artificial intelligence and biotechnology.

It also means helping SMEs adopt technology, improve productivity, and expand into higher-value activities.

Prioritise quality jobs

At the same time, Malaysia must continue attracting investments that create quality jobs, not just low-value employment.

Investments should be measured not only by how much money they bring in, but also by whether they create meaningful career pathways for Malaysians.

Education and industry must also be better connected. Graduates should not enter the workforce only to discover that their qualifications do not match market needs.

Employers, training institutions, and policymakers must work more closely to close this gap.

Ultimately, the RM5,000 statistic should not be treated just as a data point in online discussions, but as a warning sign that shapes our economic priorities moving forward.

The real question is whether workers can progress, build savings, own homes, raise families, and look to the future with confidence.

Writer is the chairperson of the Bukit Bintang Parliamentary Zone Residents’ Representative Council

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.