TAWAU: The RM100 million allocated by the Federal Government under Budget 2024 for replanting incentives will be in the form of one-to-one matching grants for qualified smallholders via the “Pembiayaan Mudah Tanam Semula” (TSPKS 2.0) programme.
Plantation and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the incentive would be one of his Ministry’s key projects this year, with the aim to accelerate replanting of palm oil plantations that are more than 23 years old.
“(This is also to ensure) the continued and sustainable development of Malaysia’s palm oil industry,” said Chan during a dinner organised by the Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce, here, last Saturday.
Chan, who is also KK MP, conducted a work visit to Tawau and went to the Teck Guan Group of Companies’ palm oil mill near Sungai Burung, Balung.
SPONSORED CONTENT RM20bil green steel project: Sabah on its way to adopting green technology, says Hajiji Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah is well on its way to fully adopting the green technology revolution with a RM20 billion green steel project at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip). Read more The palm oil mill was the first mill that Chan had visited after taking office as his Ministry’s Deputy Minister on Dec 13 last year.
Chan noted that the Teck Guan Group was founded by fellow Sabahan entrepreneurs from scratch.
Chan was received by Teck Guan Group of Companies Managing Director Datuk Hong Ngit Ming. Officers from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Sabah Branch were also present during Chan’s visit.
During the visit to the said palm oil mill, Chan and the MPOB officers had witnessed the entire oil palm processing chain and saw first-hand how the company maximises the use of every part of oil palm in high-productivity operations.
“I learnt that the Teck Guan Group had also invested a lot of efforts in renewable energy power generation, which certainly deserves commendations,” said Chan.
After the palm oil mill visit, Chan headed back to Tawau to attend a dialogue session with about 30 committee members from the Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Tawau Agricultural Association.
During the dialogue, Chan was informed of the challenges faced by smallholders in the oil palm industry, especially in the Tawau area.
In return, Chan had shared with those present the support that Federal government agencies and departments can provide to palm oil smallholders in order to form a complete ecosystem for the sustainable development of the palm oil industry.
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