Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he is prepared to consider approving the recruitment of foreign workers for palm oil harvesting, provided plantation companies commit to reducing their reliance on labour through mechanisation.
Speaking at a forum in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, Anwar was responding to an industry representative who said delays in approving foreign worker quotas could affect palm oil production next year. The representative said machinery was already used for fertilising and weed control, but harvesting still depended heavily on manual labour.
Anwar said he would raise the matter with the relevant ministry and examine the request. “If it is specifically for harvesting, okay. We will approve that. But you must then give an undertaking to reduce your reliance on foreign workers through mechanisation,” he said.
He criticised profitable plantation companies for failing to invest enough in mechanisation, and said the exploitation of foreign workers, including housing them in poor living conditions, was unacceptable.
On wider agricultural reforms, Anwar called for smallholders to be included in modernisation efforts, warning that excessive reliance on subsidies and assistance could perpetuate dependency.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product had increased by more than RM5 billion over the past two years, with more university graduates, including engineers, venturing into modern agriculture such as aquaculture and high-value crops.