KUCHING: The Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA) successfully held its 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently here with members endorsing the direction of the association in addressing the issues affecting the palm oil industry in the state and country.
Following the AGM, the following representatives have been elected to the council for the term 2017-2019’
The chairman is Tiong Chiong Ong, 1st vice chairman (Dato’ Sri Law Kiu Kiong), 2nd vice chairman (Polit Hamzah) secretary (Dato’ Ha Tiung Noon) and deputy secretary (Christopher Yek).
The treasurer is William Yii Hee Poh and deputy treasurer (Daniel Ding Huong Chen).
The council members are Dato Wong Kuo Hea, Paul Wong Hee Kwong, Dato’ Sri Patrick Wong Haw Yeong, Shannon Yii Chong Hee, Dato’ Wong Sie Young, Eric Kiu Kwong Seng and Andy Wong Ko Hock.
The meeting also unanimously agreed to re-appoint Philip Tong and Company as the auditor for the association.
In his address, SOPPOA Chairman David Tiong stressed that SOPPOA will continue to pursue the intensification of research activities in collaboration with governmental agencies and to further enhance relationships with other like-minded organizations to further improve the industry’s performances in the state.
“This is to ensure that the Sarawak palm oil industry can realize its full potential and to be on par with the rest of the country,” he said.
In this connection, he expressed his appreciation to Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and MPOB research team for providing significant and valued support in undertaking various research projects with SOPPOA member-companies to enhance productivity and improve overall performance in plantation management.
“The intention of carrying out these MPOB-SOPPOA collaboration research studies is also to enable research findings to be shared for the benefit of all SOPPOA members, especially for the smaller growers,” he added.
He said that in view of the acute shortage of labour, particularly in the plantation sub-sector, SOPPOA will continue to appeal to the state government to carry out a legalization and rehiring of illegal foreign worker program for the Sarawak plantation sector.
“The dearth of workers in the plantation sub-sector has direct serious ramifications to the industry.
“If measures are not taken to overcome the shortage of workers, the fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) will be left to rot in the trees, resulting in significant revenue losses to the industry and the government in terms of loss of taxation collections,” he said.
SOPPOA chairman drew attention that the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia, has set the timeline for mandatory compliance on Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification for implementation in stages up to 31 December 2019, to promote the production of sustainable palm oil.
MSPO is based on compliance to domestic laws and
regulations, including the development and management of oil palm cultivation that subscribes to best environment and agricultural practices.
“SOPPOA will work closely with the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) and MPOB to facilitate implementation of MSPO in Sarawak as our members are serious in practicing responsible farming and sustainable development of the palm oil industry in the state,” he pointed out.
SOPPOA chairman expressed his thanks to members for their endorsement and the opportunity to lead the association.
And he hoped that SOPPOA will continue to speak with one united voice to advance, promote, and protect the interest of the palm oil industry in Sarawak.
He advised that members must be galvanized to actively cooperate, and work together in managing the broader issues and challenges confronting the industry.
“The sustainable business endeavor involving the “Golden Crop – Oil Palm” is a Malaysian shared destiny for all of us,” he added.
