Government vows tighter price controls as RM2,000 minimum wage takes effect
Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the government will intensify enforcement of price-control laws and launch discount programmes to curb cost pressures after the RM2,000 minimum wage begins in June 2027.
In a parliamentary Q&A, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir responded to a query on the impact of the upcoming RM2,000 minimum wage, confirming the government will reinforce the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act and roll out the Jualan Rahmah MADANI and Jualan Agro MADANI discount programmes. He highlighted that the nation’s inflation stayed modest, at 1.7% in the first quarter of 2026 and about 1.9% in the second quarter, with food inflation ranging from 1.4% to 1.9% between May and August.
To ease pressure on micro, small and medium enterprises, firms with annual turnover below RM50 million will be exempted from certain obligations, helping them avoid drastic measures such as layoffs. The minister also pointed out that employees impacted by company restructuring are covered by the Employment Insurance System, which provides a job-search allowance for up to six months. These measures aim to balance wage growth with price stability and business sustainability.
Why it matters
Higher wages could raise living costs, so the government’s price-control steps aim to protect consumers and small businesses.
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