In 1990, my first salary as an Audit Assistant was RM300. 😂

RM280 salary.
Plus RM20 COLA.

When I saw COLA, I was still blur blur.
“What is COLA?”

I only knew Coca-Cola. 😂
Those days, no bank transfer.
No phone notification.
And definitely no message saying.

“Your salary has been credited.”

Every month,
I would take my cheque to UMBC Bank,
now RHB.

Queue up.
When it was my turn,
I would smile and tell the counter lady.
“This is my allowance.”

Maybe RM300 to call it salary,
I also felt a bit paiseh. 😂

Now I am the boss.
“Salary, EPF, SOCSO, EIS, increment…”

So,
if the next Budget talks about increasing the minimum wage again,

I have one small wish.

Employee income upgrades.
SME productivity upgrades.
Government support also upgrades.

Don’t let only the payroll upgrade. 😂
Because higher wages are, of course, a good thing.

But if productivity,
technology,
training and
business efficiency
can all improve together,
then everyone can go further together.

If today I could still take that RM300 cheque,
and walk back into UMBC Bank.

I would still smile at the counter lady and say.
“This is my allowance.”

Then I would add.
“Don’t look down on this RM300.”
“It really changed my life.”

How much was your salary in your first job?
I go first.
RM300. Don’t laugh. 😂