KUALA LUMPUR: The Government cannot introduce the minimum wage now as demanded by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress for fear that it will cause inflation, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

The Prime Minister said that it was not because the Government was uncaring but pointed out that the minimum wage was 'something that had to be carefully assessed'.

'I don't know why they would want to use that approach as if we are not caring,' he said to a report that the MTUC would picket in Parliament on Wednesday to pressure the Government to implement its proposed RM900 minimum wage and RM300 cost of living allowance for workers.

Abdullah, however, stressed that the Economic Planning Unit was already considering MTUC's request.

'We have no reason to delay it unnecessarily but this is an issue that has to be carefully thought out,' he said.

' Not simply to say 'okay, okay okay' (to the request).

'We are not politicians making populist announcements,' he told reporters after attending the Workers' Day celebration organised by the Human Resources Ministry.

Abdullah said that the Government also had to act responsibly in managing the economy and would only implement what was good and feasible.

'But if we have some doubts about introducing it now, naturally we cannot do it,' he said, adding that the Government also had to seek the views of other quarters on the matter and hoped the MTUC understood that.

'They can have a 100 demonstrations but if we can't, we can't.

'It is as simple as that. If we can, we give,' the Prime Minister said.

Abdullah said that he would certainly want the people to be happy and have higher wages but the Government had to be responsible to others too.

He pointed out that higher wages would also cause inflation and goods would be sold at higher prices.

'What is the meaning of giving additional pay if tomorrow we have to use our extra money to pay for higher priced goods?

'We need money for other things too.

'That's my sincere feeling on this and I hope people will understand. That's not the way to get things done,' he said.

Meanwhile at the celebration held at Stadium Putra, the Prime Minister also launched the Malaysian Masterplan On Training and Working Skills Development to provide a platform for capacity development by producing first-class human capital.