Quick answer
Start by asking whether gross pay changed. If it fell, the usual causes are less overtime, a missing or non-recurring allowance, no bonus or commission, unpaid leave, or a partial payroll month. If gross pay stayed the same but net pay fell, compare employee EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB and other deductions.
Compare the right numbers first
Do not compare the salary written in an offer letter directly with a bank credit. Find these three figures on the payslip:
| Figure | What it means | What to compare it with |
|---|---|---|
| Basic salary | Regular base pay before additions and deductions. | Contract or latest agreed salary. |
| Gross pay | Basic salary plus payroll earnings for the period. | Basic pay, overtime, allowances, bonus and commission lines. |
| Net pay | Gross pay after employee deductions. | The related bank credit or combined salary payments. |
If those terms are still unclear, read gross salary versus net salary before checking the deduction lines.
Seven checks when salary looks wrong
Payroll period and cutoff
Confirm the dates covered and whether late-month overtime or claims move to the next cycle.
Basic and gross pay
Check whether lower overtime, commission, bonus or allowances reduced gross earnings.
Incomplete month or unpaid leave
Look for prorating, unpaid absence or a mid-month start or exit.
Employee deductions
Compare employee EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB and other deductions line by line.
Employer contributions
Keep employer-funded amounts separate; they do not reduce your take-home pay.
Net pay and bank credit
The payslip net-pay figure should reconcile with the related bank payment or payments.
Previous payslip
Compare the same rows across two months instead of comparing only the final totals.
PCB deserves its own comparison because it can react differently from contribution lines. If PCB is the main change, use the Why Is My PCB High? guide next.
Worked example: the deduction is not always the main cause
Assume basic salary is RM3,000 in both months. Last month included RM400 of overtime, while this month includes RM100. Gross pay has already fallen by RM300 before statutory or other deductions are compared.
| Component | Last month | This month | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic salary | RM3,000 | RM3,000 | RM0 |
| Overtime | RM400 | RM100 | − RM300 |
| Gross pay | RM3,400 | RM3,100 | − RM300 |
This example identifies the first difference; it is not a complete payroll calculation. Contribution and PCB amounts must still be checked using the correct pay items and payroll data.
When to ask HR or payroll
Ask for a specific review when you find any of these:
- the bank credit does not match net pay on the payslip;
- approved overtime is missing after the stated payroll cutoff;
- a fixed contractual allowance disappears without explanation;
- attendance, unpaid leave or the pay period is incorrect;
- a deduction has no clear label or supporting explanation; or
- PCB changes sharply without an obvious earnings or tax-data change.
“Could you please check my April 2026 payslip? The eight approved overtime hours from the second week are not shown, and net pay is lower than last month. Please confirm whether those hours belong to this payroll cycle or the next one.”
A message naming the month, missing line and supporting record is easier to investigate than simply saying the salary is wrong.
Keep the evidence if the difference remains unresolved
Keep secure copies of:
- the current payslip;
- the previous payslip;
- the employment contract or appointment letter;
- attendance and approved overtime records;
- leave or allowance approvals; and
- the related bank transaction.
For workplaces in Peninsular Malaysia, JTKSM says an employment complaint can concern service terms or another employment issue and asks for supporting documents such as the contract and latest payslip. Sabah and Sarawak have separate labour departments, so use the authority for the location where you work.
Recreate the payslip with the same numbers
Enter the same basic salary, overtime, allowances, bonus, age and tax details in DuitMap. Use the generated payslip as an early comparison, then rely on the employer's fuller records for the final explanation.
The calculator is an estimate and does not prove that a payslip is correct or incorrect.