Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor met with Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin to discuss increasing the replanting rate for smallholder oil palm farmers and implementing a digital registration system for foreign workers in Sabah.
Chan said the implementation of the Smallholder Oil Palm Replanting Easy Financing Scheme 2.0 (TSPKS 2.0) could be optimally used by smallholders with the support of the State Government in expediting the verification process of land ownership status.
He said Sabah is Malaysia’s main producer of crude palm oil (CPO) and accelerating the replanting rate is crucial to ensuring continued productivity and long-term sustainability of the industry.
He added the State Government’s role in verifying land status is a key component in enabling smallholders to access financing under the TSPKS 2.0 scheme more easily and efficiently.
The second major issue discussed was the implementation of a digital foreign worker registration system for the palm oil sector in Sabah.
This system is seen as a crucial step towards more systematic and efficient foreign labour management.
Chan said the palm oil sector is heavily reliant on foreign labour and digital registration would enable the Government to organise worker data in a more transparent and structured manner, aligned with monitoring and security needs.
He emphasised the need for close cooperation and continuous coordination between Federal and State Government agencies to ensure the system’s effective implementation.
Chan expressed deep appreciation to the Chief Minister for his continued support of the Ministry’s efforts to develop and advance the agri-commodity sector, particularly the palm oil industry, which is a vital pillar of Sabah’s economy.
He said the Ministry firmly believes that strong collaboration between the Federal and State Governments will further enhance the competitiveness of the agri-commodity industry, ultimately benefiting the people and the country.
Also present during the visit were the Ministry’s senior officials, including the Senior Secretary of the Oil Palm and Sago Industry Division (BISS) Severinus Tukah; the Secretary of the Industrial Innovation and Human Capital Promotion Division (PIMI) Saravana Kumar a/l Marimuthu; the Secretary of State Internal Affairs and Research Datuk Shahminan Sahari; and the Chief Minister’s Senior Private Secretary Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun.
