THE government’s move to raise the minimum wage from RM1,200 to RM1,500 with effect from May 1 has been met with resistance as the country transitions to endemicity against a backdrop of nascent economic recovery, global inflation and geopolitical tensions arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
THE recent uptrend in crude oil prices seems to suggest that the commodity is staging a comeback. Since breaching the US$50 per barrel mark in early December last year, Brent crude has continued to climb steadily amid the continued uncertainty surrounding the virus.
On Feb 8, Brent crude climbed above US$60 a barrel for the first time in a year.
The rise in oil prices has been linked to several factors. One is undeniably propped up by the Covid-19 vaccine breakthrough last year, renewing optimism about fuel consumption, while colder winters have also helped push up prices, especially for liquefied natural gas (LNG).