Workers at the production and packaging line of white refined sugar at MSM Prai plant in Prai, Penang yesterday. - Starpic Mustafa Ahmad (16/11/2015).
JEMPOL: Malaysia’s biggest sugar refinery, which is being constructed in Tanjung Langsat, Johor, is 45% complete, and is expected to produce one million metric tonne of refined sugar, annually, once it starts operations next year, said Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.
“Once it’s ready, MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd
(MSM) would be able to sell refined sugar to the domestic market and overseas,” he said.
Speaking to Bernama after handing over 12 computers and RM5,000 cash, to be distributed to 50 students of Sekolah Kebangsaan (Felda) Serting Hilir 2 in Jempol on Friday, he said the refinery would obtain its supply of raw sugar from several countries, including Brazil, China and Thailand.
“We have to get our supplies from several countries because we do not have any large-scale sugarcane plantation in Malaysia.
“We don’t have the right type of soil for it (sugarcane cultivation).
“We tried it back in the 60s and the 70s in Negri Sembilan, but we found that the sugar content in the sugarcane was insufficient,” he said.
A subsidiary of FGV, MSM accounted for 65% of the local sugar market and had invested RM90mil to purchase 20.47ha of land to construct the country’s third sugar refinery. - Bernama
Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.
