Sabah allows oil palm estates, palm oil mills to resume operations

CORONAVIRUS | The Sabah state government today granted conditional approval for oil palm estates and palm oil mills in six districts to resume operations.

This came after Putrajaya helped the oil palm industry to appeal to the state government to lift the temporary ban imposed after two workers tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement today, Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said the oil palm estates and mills at Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Semporna, Kunak and Kalabakan would be allowed to operate.

He, however, said should anyone from the estate and mills test positive for Covid-19, the approval will be revoked.

Similarly, Shafie said approval would be withdrawn if any staff is listed as a person under investigation (PUI) or having close contact with a Covid-29 patient or another PUI.

Shafie said the operators should also observe the guidelines outlined by the state Health Department to, among other conditions, reduce their manpower by 50 percent.

He noted the decision above would be reviewed from time to time.

Last month, Sabah ordered the closure of oil palm estates and mills in six districts as two employees at an estate had tested positive for Covid-19 following their return from the tabligh gathering held in Sri Petaling early last March.

On March 31, the Malaysian Estate Owners' Association and Malaysian Palm Oil Association voiced concerns over the closure of oil palm estates and palm oil mills.

They said the six districts contributed 75 percent of the palm oil production in Sabah and close to 100,000 workers were impacted.

On April 3, Primary Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali said he would help both associations to appeal to the Sabah state government.

On a national level, Putrajaya allows oil palm, rubber, timber and cocoa industry to operate during the movement control period, which was just extended to April 28. - Mkini