KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's largest labour union staged a rally Wednesday outside Parliament to call for the introduction of a minimum wage to help low-paid workers cope with rising living costs.

Some 150 members of the Malaysian Trades Union Congress chanted ``Long live workers'' as they demanded a minimum wage of 900 ringgit (US$285; euro184) a month and an additional 300 ringgit (US$95; euro61) as a ``cost of living allowance,'' a benefit currently reserved for public sector workers.

``It's very important. The cost of living is hiking up,'' said MTUC Vice President Mustafar Maarof. ``The people cannot cope.''

The MTUC estimates that 40 percent of Malaysia's nearly 10 million private-sector employees earn less than 700 ringgit (US$222; euro143) a month. Most work at plantations or factories.

It says plantation workers are among the worst paid, with some earning monthly salaries of less than 400 ringgit (US$126; euro81).

Last week, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi rejected calls for a minimum wage system, saying his government would need to study it amid inflationary pressure and a slowing economy.

Mustafar said the MTUC, which represents some 500,000 workers, was disappointed with the government's stance but would not give up its campaign. The protesters delivered a statement to a member of Parliament and dispersed after 90 minutes.

Complaints over the rising cost of living contributed to the ruling coalition's poor performance in March elections, when it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament.