KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia will introduce a minimum wage for the first time in a move to bolster incomes amid rising living costs and speculation of a snap general election, a report said Tuesday (May 1st).

An estimated 3.2 million workers are expected to gain from the move but labour unions, which have been battling for a minimum wage for the past 15 years, described the base rate as too little, AFP reported.

Private sector workers in peninsular Malaysia will receive a minimum salary of 900 ringgit ($297) a month while workers in the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo will get 800 ringgit ($264).

Awang Ibrahim, general-secretary of the Union of Beverage Industry Workers, said he was disappointed with the level of the minimum wage.

"The Malaysian Trades Union Congress asked for a 1,200 ringgit minimum wage 15 years ago and I believe the amount announced by the prime minister is insufficient for those living in cities," he said.