This industry has been categorised as essential to the economy of the local community and the nation, PKPPKM said in a statement today. File Photo
KUCHING: The oil palm smallholders association Persatuan Kebangsaan Pekebun-Pekebun Kecil Malaysia (PKPPKM) said the National Security Council (MKN) did not impose restrictions on activities in the palm oil commodity sector during the two-week movement control order (MCO) period that starts today.
These activities are planting, buying and selling, milling and collecting the oil palm fruits because they are essential services, said PKPPKM secretary general Syed Abd Rahman Syed Noh via a press statement handed over by the Sarawak Oil Palm Operators Association (Soppoa) today.
“This industry has been categorised as essential to the economy of the local community and the nation. Therefore all activities at the collection companies and processing plants can continue,” the statement said.
However PKPPKM said it would still be up to these companies and processing plants to carry on operating or not during the MCO period as an effort to contain the Covid-19 spread.
When contacted, Malaysia Trade Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak questioned the rationale behind allowing state oil palm sector players to continue operating their services amid the MCO.
“What is the rationale to exempt oil palm industry from restricted movement when micro business as local cobblers and tailoring have to close?”
“It seems that the oil palm industry is so powerful that it can dictate government policy,” he added.
Lo made the remarks when pre-empting the state government’s move to permit services in the oil palm industry to continue but with some conditions for the sake of workers’ personal safety.