KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 1 -- Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan says he understands Malaysia's working class very well, having come from a similar "hard life" background where he had to forego pursuit of higher education in his youth to help his widowed mother after his rubber tapper father died.

In an interview with The Star published today, the 52-year-old recounted a tough childhood following the death of his father had been the family's sole breadwinner, but said his experiences have enabled him to understand workers and driven him to help jobseekers find employment in the current economic climate.

"I came from a hard life. I understand the wage earners well. My father was a rubber tapper and when he passed away, I had to ...