"Three years ago, a great number of our people worked in oil palm plantations in the neighboring country, and now many of them have returned home," said Ahmad Salafuddin, Badau sub-district head here Tuesday.
Most of the former migrant workers in the sub-district, according to Salafuddin, are now working in the plantations and agriculture sectors.
In addition, Empanang sub-district head, Indrayani said that many of the people in the region are now reluctant to continue working in Malaysia, especially after Sinar Mas Group extended oil palm estate in the area.
Apart from operating in the oil palm plantations, Sinar Mas Group has also built two official residences for primary school teachers in Empanang, as well as the street infrastructure in the disadvantaged regions.
Salafuddin said, most of the Empanang sub-district work force were employed by the Sinar Mas oil palm estate.
In the meantime, the Kapuas Hulu district head, AM Nasir said his district administration has requested the oil palm estate to give priority to the local people to work in the plantations.
Sinar Mas Group was planning to construct two palm oil processing factories in effort to produce the crude palm oil (CPO) with the designed capacity of 50 tons per hour.(*)
(A057/f001/HAJM)
(T.SYS/B/B003/B/H-YH) 08-03-2011 20:53:29
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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