31/05/2011 (The star) - Sime Darby's entry into Liberia poses a tough challenge not just in terms of issues relating to the land it has obtained to develop oil palm and rubber plantations but also providing for its workers and their children.

The children were happy and smiling while waving their hands as they shouted “hello” in a sing-song manner to the Sime Darby entourage comprising its top management and a group of Malaysian journalists.

They were heading towards Sime Darby's Matambo estate in Grand Cape Mount county recently.

Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam (centre) posing with top management of the conglomerate and children from a village within the plantation concession area.

Sime Darby is now well-known among the village folk staying within the 220,000ha of the concession area granted by the Liberian government to Sime Darby Plantations Sdn Bhd.