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My company offered a 5% annual increment. Should I accept or push back?

by Hanim Yusof·May 24, 2026

Context: I've been here 2 years, consistently exceeding targets, took on a team lead role informally for 6 months, and the market rate for my role has moved up. The 5% is their standard across-the-board increment.

I've been reading a lot about negotiation and the common advice is to counter with data. I have it — I know the market rate and I know my contribution. But I'm in a company where pushing back on HR decisions is culturally unusual.

Has anyone successfully negotiated above the standard increment here in Malaysia? What framing worked? And what happens if they say no — do you just accept it or does it accelerate the decision to leave?

#increment#negotiation#salary#Malaysia
198 upvotes6 comments

Comments (6)

Brendon Chai16

Researching the interviewer's LinkedIn helped me reference their work during the interview. They noticed and it built instant rapport.

Zuraidah Musa14

I always look at recent company news before an interview. "I saw you just launched X — how has the team adapted?" is a strong opener.

Terence Kong9

Company annual reports, if public, tell you the real story. Revenue, priorities, risk factors — shows you've done serious homework.