Hiring Bangladeshi workers a last resort, Masing clarifies

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Dr James Jemut Masing

KUCHING: Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing clarified that the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers for the plantation sector, especially as harvesters, in Sarawak is a last resort as locals shun the job.

“We need workers in plantations and we have no choice. If the locals can do it, my goodness, I will be very happy if they are willing,” Masing told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

He added that the state was looking at Indonesians, especially the Timorese and Bugis as they had proved to be good plantation workers.

“The best workers (for the plantation) are Indonesians, specially the Timorese and the Bugis. They are very good. But we cannot depend on Indonesians so much because they are our competitors.

“Why should we train them? If they leave they will stay back as they have their own plantations. So we must reduce our dependence on Indonesians as our plantation workers.”

He pointed out that Bangladeshi workers were actually good in the manufacturing sector but untested in the plantation sector.

“In plantation, we don’t know yet, that’s why we have this certain number first, just to test them, whether they are good or not. There are now a few of them with Sime Derby in West Malaysia, and they seemed to be okay. So we are testing them,” he explained.

Masing explained that for a start, a small number will be employed and given the chance to work here for two years.

“If they can’t work then we will send them off. And we will be very strict on that because we have control over immigration. This is indeed an untested territory for us.”

Commenting on the fierce critics on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, Masing said: “Armchair critics, I don’t want to listen to them. I don’t want a lecture kind of attitude. I have enough of these guys.

“But if you are from the plantation sector, then you can tell me how to do it and how to get the locals in. Tell me and I will be so pleased.

“You must know plantation sector is private sector driven. You don’t give them RM200 a day, as you will go bankrupt the next day. They are not a charitable organisation,” he said.

Masing reiterated that he was ready to listen to the critics if they could come up with the workers that the state needs urgently for the sector.

“But for those critics, none of them are planters of oil palms. Dia cakap saja.

“I am not interested to listen to them,” he said, adding that currently the state was looking for at least 30,000 harvesters as it is losing some RM1 billion a year due to uncollected fresh fruits bunches.

Masing also explained that the State was also looking at countries such at Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia.

“We were looking at Myanmar at one time but it is not politically stable yet. And I went to Vietnam and Cambodia, but I think that they are not ready for plantation work,” explained Masing.

He stressed the biggest problem facing the plantation sector was shortage of workers.

“We have tried to entice locals to come in. Salcra has tried all sorts of means but there were no takers, even the smallholders face similar problem.”

Meanwhile, Masing agreed with the chief minister’s recent statement that the state will stop issuing state land for plantations.

He disclosed that currently, the state has some 1.2 million hectares of land planted with oil palm comprising 700, 000 hectares of state land and 500,000 hectares are Native Customary Right (NCR) land.

“My ministry is keen to develop NCR land. As for state land, we have given out enough. I agree with the chief minister on this as we still want to develop another one million ha of NCR land in future.

“If we stop giving state land then, we can develop NCR land so that we can get locals to come in to improve their livelihood. What is the use if we have land but it is unproductive?” asked Masing.