25/05/2012 (Bernama) - Sarawak's oil palm and timber sectors are going to be affected by the implementation of the minimum wage policy largely because the two sectors are still very labour intensive, Ta Ann Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Wong Kuo Hea said Thursday.

Speaking at the company's 15th annual general meeting here, he said the situation is different in Peninsular Malaysia with many industry players opting for mechanisation.

Ta Ann, a Bursa Malaysia listed company, is one of the state's top oil palm and timber plantation giants, employing about 6,000 workers in both sectors.

Wong said Sarawak's small population provides an insufficient pool of workers for the two industries, which have to rely heavily on foreign labour, adding the state's entrrpreners are not keen to go into high-technology industries due to the inadequate infrastructure.