17/04/2012 (Business Times) - Sime Darby Bhd plans to spend RM2 billion in the next 10 years to upgrade its workers' housing at its oil palm estates to that of mini-townships.

This is an initiative based on a better community living model comprising residences, offices, public amenities and recreational facilities clustered in one location.

By enhancing living standards of its employees at the estates, the group hopes to attract and retain more local talent at its estates.

Currently, Sime Darby employs 37,000 workers at its plantations in Malaysia, of whom only 40 per cent are locals.
 
"This Central Housing Complex is a place you could call home and not just a company's house," said chairman Tun Musa Hitam.

He was speaking to reporters here yesterday after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak officiated at the upgrading of staff housing amenities at the Tennamaram Estate.

The location is historic because Tennamaram Estate is Malaysia's first commercial oil palm estate dating back to 1917.

So far, Sime Darby spent RM37 million at this estate so that managers, executives and staff get to live in three-bedroom and two-bathroom quarters equipped with broadcast satellite television Astro.

There are now more sports and recreational facilities for the enjoyment of its 300-odd staff there.

Following the successful rollout of this Tennamaram Estate pilot project, the group will now seek to upgrade more workers' quarters at three more estates this year.

They are Simpang Renggam Estate in Johor, Sg Dingin Estate in Kedah and Sentosa Estate in Sabah.

As an integrated global company, Sime Darby also has refineries, specialty fats and oleochemical plants spread out in several countries to produce ingredients to make cooking oil, margarine, fruit juices and detergent.