Look at the plantation business, not only the trees

IT is easy to understand why Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim spends a lot of time thinking about the plantation business. He joined a select group of the industry's most influential figures when he became group chief executive of Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd in 1994. 

Seven years later, he took on an additional role – a broader one – by accepting the chairmanship of the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA). The association was formed in 1999 to replace the Rubber Growers Association, United Planting Association of Malaysia and Malaysian Palm Oil Growers Council.