03/04/2023 (Daily Express), Beijing - The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) Vice President Tan Sri Andrew Liew hopes at least one Sabahan will be appointed to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

He said Sabah has a better understanding of the palm oil situation in the State and it would facilitate better communication with the federal authorities, which is more efficient and gets results twice faster with half the effort.

Andrew, who is also Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SUCCC) President, also hoped the Prime Minister would pay attention to the shortage of human resources in Sabah.

He said Sabah’s palm oil industry is short of 30 per cent manpower, adding that the State urgently needs a labour law with full authority to strengthen the development of the palm oil industry and independently employ human resources including foreign workers.

“If Sabah can regain control of human resources, the potential benefit of Sabah is that it will generate additional income, which may bring an additional RM700 million per year to Sabah’s coffers,” he said after a breaking of fast ceremony together with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar took the time to speak with more than 300 business leaders from Malaysia at the event.

During the exchange, Andrew delivered a speech and he was also the only Sabahan who spoke at the event.

He said according to a study by the East Malaysia Growers Association, Sabah loses about RM400 to 500 million from palm fruit tax every year due to labour shortage.

In addition, Andrew, who is also the CEO of Andamy Plantations Group, also hoped that the Unity Government would be sympathetic to Sabah’s palm oil industry and pay attention to various taxes that are unfavorable to the industry, including Windfall Tax and Sales Tax.

“Although various industries in our country are moving towards recovery and normalisation, the oil palm industry, which is in urgent need of manpower, is facing a development bottleneck.”

Meanwhile, Anwar also co-hosted the 2023 Malaysia-China Business Forum with Trade and Industry Minister Tunku Zafrul at the China World Hotel in Beijing on April 1.

https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/210529/hoping-for-spot-in-the-malaysian-palm-oil-board/