COURTESY CALL: The Chief Minister (centre) in a photo call with (from left) Daniel Ding Huong Chen, Philip Ho Kian Sin (secretary), Datu Vasco Sabat Singkang, Dato Wong Kie Yik, David Tiong Chiong Ong (second vice chairman), Dato Ding Lian Cheon (SOPPOA advisor/founder), Paul Wong Hee Kwong, Polit Hamzah, Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi (advisor), Dato Jin Kee Mou (treasurer), Thomas Tieng Mee Tung (deputy treasurer), Simon Wong Siik Onn and Alvin Yii Heng Kee during the courtesy call.
KUCHING: Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA) voiced their concerns about the palm oil industry during a discussion with Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here Wednesday.
“We are concerned about the attacks from NGOs on oil palm planting in Sarawak, especially on peat soil.
“As such, we hope the government will take more concerted efforts to undertake a research on the subject which include putting conservation strategies in place to safeguard them,” association chairman Paul Wong Hee Kwong said in a press statement received here yesterday.
He said the palm oil industry had emerged as one of the main contributors to the state’s economy.
Another issue discussed at the meeting was the current low price of crude palm oil (CPO) and the rising production costs which resulted in lower profit margin.
The association is thus requesting the government to relook the sales tax structure in view of the industry still in its infant stage and yet to reach its full potential.
“SOPPOA is also concerned about the land issues which can also impact the growth of the industry, and we also sought the advice of the chief minister on that issue too,” Wong said.
They also voiced their concern over the shortage of manpower in Sarawak which was badly affecting the industry, as only Indonesians were allowed to work in the plantation sector.
Thus, they urged the government to allow other nationalities to be employed in the sector to alleviate the shortage.
Taken from The Borneo Post
