26/04/2013 (New Straits Times) - Terengganu's prominent oil palm plantations company TDM Berhad will start building an RM80 million oil palm mill in their plantations in West Kalimantan, Indonesia this year to further strengthen its position and increase its value-added revenue.

Its chairman Datuk Roslan Awang Chik said the 11,000 hectares plantation which was started a few years ago, had completed the initial planting stages.

TDM currently have two oil palm mills, both in Terengganu; in Sungai Tong and here.

"With our 32,000 hectares of planted oil palm lands here in the state and in Indonesia, we expect to be able to contribute about RM200 million annually to the state government.

"TDM has been prosperous since 1965 under the management of the state Barisan Nasional's administration, with exception of the years from 1999 to 2004 when the opposition ruled," Roslan said in his speech at the Kemaman Complex Staff Quarters Key Presentation and Excellence Award ceremony held today at the Pelantoh Plantation Hall in Padang Kubu here.

He added that the 70 per cent state-owned company listed in Bursa Malaysia's main board, has soared tremendously since he joined in 2009.

"We totaled an RM60 million revenue then, but last year it grew to RM149 million," Roslan added, speaking to about 500 villagers who are mostly plantations workers who attended the event.

The event was officiated by BN N31 Cukai state seat candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Nizam Wan Abdul Hamid who represented the Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.

Rosland later presented 10 staff from TDM's Kemaman Oil Palm Factory here with the keys to their brand-new RM160,000 house.

Earlier, Wan Ahmad Nizam handed out cash awards from the company to the children of the staff who excelled in their studies and 16 labourers.