Anifah urges Sabah to reconsider its oil palm operation ban

Former foreign minister Anifah Aman has added to the chorus of appeals for Sabah to reopen oil palm estates and mills.

KOTA KINABALU: Former foreign minister Anifah Aman has urged the Sabah government to reconsider its stand on the closure of oil palm plantations and palm oil mills despite various appeals.

He said the federal government has decided to allow activities and operations related to agriculture and fisheries to continue during the movement control order (MCO).

Anifah said the state government should consider all aspects before deciding on the matter.

He said production of cooking oil will be reduced if employers lose their ability to make payments to workers. This will also lead to widespread lay-offs.

Anifah said the federal government had given much thought to this and thus the decision to allow industries related to food production to continue.

He said transport companies had also been given the go-ahead to transport agricultural products.

Anifah noted the palm oil sector contributed around RM1 billion tax revenue to the state government.

He said Sabah should not use the “no money” reason later on when it came to extending aid to the people should the palm oil sector one day be no longer able to contribute to the economy as before. - FMT