PALM OIL EXPORTS REACH US$5.85 BILLION IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR

SANDAKAN, June 29 (Bernama) -- Palm oil exports rose 21 per cent to RM19
billion (US$5.85 billion) (US$1=RM3.24) in the first four months of this year
against exports of RM15 billion (US$4.61 billion) registered in the
corresponding period last year, said Plantation Industries and
Commodities Deputy Minister Hamzah Zainudin.

He said realising its importance as a leading revenue earner for the
country, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had placed the industry under
the National Key Results Areas.

However, he pointed out that the industry was over dependent on foreign
labour as 80 per cent of the 200,000 workers employed in oil palm plantations
were harvesters.

"Locals are reluctant to work in oil palm plantations and this has led to
the influx of foreign workers.

"The government is aware of the dilema but industry players themselves
should assume the responsibility to address the problem," he said, adding that
large plantation companies should turn to mechanisation to reduce their
dependence on foreign labour.

Speaking at the launch of a motorised harvester, the Cantas Mark III, here
today, Hamzah said land under oil palm cultivation had reached 4.7 million
hectares and a large workforce was required to man these plantations.

The Cantas Mark III, jointly developed by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and
Fancy Power Sdn Bhd, is an updated version of the motorised harvester which was
first commercialised in 2007.

Hamzah said large oil palm plantations should consider the extensive use of
the petrol fuelled harvester which retailed for RM2,500 each (US$769).

Expressing dissapointment over the fact that only 559 such machines were
used todate, he said the Cantas Mark III can address the severe labour shortage
faced in oil palm plantations.

-- BERNAMA