KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 -- The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) has proposed that all plantations and palm oil mills which have not been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in six districts in Sabah to be allowed to resume operations.
The six districts are Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Kunak, Semporna and Kalabakan.

In a statement today, its minister Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said the ministry submitted an appeal letter to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on March 25 to reconsider the state’s order to suspend the plantation and palm oil mills’ operation in the six districts.

He said the ministry, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), has submitted the relevant information and input to the state government with hopes that it would reassess the situation accordingly.
Mohd Khairuddin added that plantations and mills in those areas should be allowed to resume operations, albeit with tighter compliance to the prevention and standard operating procedure outlined by the Ministry of Health.
“The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) and Malaysian Estate Owners' Association’s (MEOA) statement that the suspension of plantations and palm oil mills operation will have a socio-economic impact on the people has its merits and should be considered by the state government on a case-by-case basis.
“Not only will the closures have socio-economic implications on the workers, it will also affect the owners and will also have an impact on the state and the nation’s revenues,” he said, adding that the closures will also interrupt and affect the production and supply of cooking oil for the domestic market, especially in Sabah.
He said the revenue from the palm oil plantation sector is very much needed by the state government to fund the COVID-19 prevention programmes as well as to provide direct assistance to the people affected during and after the MCO.
However, Mohd Khairuddin said the ministry fully supports the move to suspend the operations of plantations and mills with COVID-19 cases.
The minister also advised all palm oil industry players to adhere to the Movement Control Order (MCO), including minimising the workforce and workers movement, as well as practicing social distancing and maintaining cleanliness at all times.
On April 2, Mohd Shafie said the state government was going to review and make the final call on the suspension of plantations and mills operation in the six districts.
The chief minister is expected to make the announcement on the decision after the Sabah cabinet meeting today.
-- BERNAMA

https://www.bernama.com/en/business/news.php?id=1830169
Source: bernama.com