Oil palm plantations in dire need of workers

KOTA KINABALU: An acute foreign labour shortage in Sabah's oil palm plantations has led to planters seeking government intervention to reopen borders to get their workers back.

"There is an estimated shortage of around 10,000 workers," said East Malaysian Planters Association (EMPA) president Hanas Hakmad, adding that losses were around 10% to 15% annually.