A Malaysian man has sparked discussion online after revealing his salary as a site engineer working in Kelantan.
In a Threads post, he wrote: “Salary of an engineer in Kelantan. Happy breaking fast.”
He then attached a screenshot showing two bank transfers totalling RM3,650. According to him, he has been at his current company for five months and has three years of experience in the industry.
Here’s the breakdown of his salary
When netizens asked for clarification, he explained:
- Basic salary: RM2,300
- Allowance: RM800
- Overtime: RM10 per hour
The total amount shown in the screenshot consisted of his basic salary in one transaction, and his allowance plus overtime in another.
However, when asked whether EPF and SOCSO were deducted, he replied:
That’s the sad part, they don’t even pay EPF.”
This surprised many, as employer EPF contributions are mandatory under Malaysian labour regulations.
View on Threads
Netizens compare salaries in Kelantan
The post quickly drew responses from others working in the state.
One netizen commented: ‘A private university lecturer’s basic salary in Kelantan is RM1.8k.’
Another argued that salaries in Kelantan may seem low compared to Kuala Lumpur, but noted the cost of living is significantly lower, writing: ‘If you earn more than RM3K in Kelantan, it’s equivalent to RM6K in KL.’
Some advised the OP to consider moving out of the state if he felt the pay did not match the workload.
Meanwhile, others shared their own career paths, saying they worked in Kuala Lumpur for several years first before returning to Kelantan to negotiate higher pay.
Is RM3,600 considered high in Kelantan?
Not everyone thought the salary was low, with some opining that earning over RM3,000 in Kelantan, especially with only three years of experience, was already decent.
However, others pointed out that the absence of EPF contributions might be a more serious issue than the salary itself.
What do you think? Is RM2,300 in basic salary fair for a site engineer with three years of experience in Kelantan?
