The government announced pay rise for civil servants between 7.5% and 42%. Now, that is real high and the civil servants must be joyous with the announcement, which is widely seen as a sign that the General Election is very soon.

However, private sector employees have nothing to cheer about. Most companies are giving annual salary adjustment of below 5% while some companies practices an adjustment of about RM100 a year regardless of the basic salary. How can everyone cope with the ever increasing cost of living especially since the petrol price increase in March 2006?