Process of getting foreign workers for plantation sector still being finetuned, says Willie

Willie (third right) lighting a torch to officiate the Puncak Borneo Women's Day celebration.

By Jacob Achoi

KUCHING, April 30: The intake of foreign workers for the country’s plantation sector is still being finetuned, said Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Willie Mongin.

He said there were still several problems that need to be sorted out before the process can be carried out smoothly.

According to him, among the problems to be sorted out were the issue of workers quarters and the preparedness of the countries concerned to send the workers to Malaysia.

“At least 32,000 workers are needed and at the moment there are already (foreign workers) coming in.

“However, those coming in are still not enough to work in our plantation sector, so the process to bring in 32,000 workers is still being finetuned,” Willie said today after he officiated at the ‘Puncak Borneo Women’s Day’ celebration at Kpg Bratan Community Hall, Jln Borneo Height.

Willie, who is Puncak Borneo MP, also said Indonesia’s ban on oil palm export was good for Malaysia.

He said this was because the country can sell the commodity to the countries that received the supply from Indonesia.

“On the ban announced by Indonesia, we need to capitalise on the situation and increase our production,” he said. — DayakDaily