MPOA appeals to Sabah government to review fees structure

KUALA LUMPUR:  The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) is appealing to the Sabah state government to review the fees structure under the regularisation programme. 

Under the regularisation programme, plantation workers alongside their families and children would be given a chance to be legalised, starting from April 1, till Sept 30.

Although MPOA applauds the efforts of the Sabah state government, its chief executive Datuk Nageeb Wahab said the estimated cost of the RM800mil regularisation plan across Sabah would be borne by the plantation industry. 

“ The low price of crude palm oil, high production costs and the heavy taxes incurred by the industry is already a big burden to the shoulder. 

“This noble attempt by the authorities will be futile in the absence of compliance by growers and may lead to negative outcome,” he noted. 

 Earlier, the Malaysian Estate Owners’ Association also urged Sabah government to review the fee structure to regularise foreign estate workers and their dependents in the state, resulting in planters being at the losing end.