PLASMA can reduce dependency on foreign workers in plantation

He said since the centre was established, 2,500 individuals had undergone training, and 75 per cent of them had ventured into the plantations industry, especially in the operation of machinery.

"Although the plantation sector provides a wide range of job opportunities, the lack of interest among locals has forced plantation companies to employ foreign workers, and as of May 2017, there are 428,000 oil palm plantation workers, and 77 per cent, or 328,400 of them are foreigners.

"The government, through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has taken the initiative to set up PLASMA, which offers skills training for local youths, thus reducing dependency on foreign workers," he said.

He said this after officiating a seminar on the need for training to strengthen human capital in the palm oil sector, as well as the launch of the Lahad Datu 1Commodity Service Centre (1CSC) here, today.

Nasrun said that with the skills offered by PLASMA, the use of machinery and plantation technologies could also change the perception of youth about the 3D work, namely Dirty, Difficult, Dangerous, in the plantation sector and replaced it with 3S, that is 'Selamat' (Safe), 'Senang' (Easy) and 'Seronok' (Enjoyable).

The deputy minister said the government had allocated RM4.5 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan to help the plantation sector to purchase machinery with subsidies of up to 20 per cent.

"This is among the government's initiatives to increase the productivity of the country's oil palm sector by offering incentives for the use of machinery...which has been seen as being able to increase the income of small-scale entrepreneurs and planters.

Meanwhile, Nasrun said 1CSC would provide various services to farmers in the district, such as basic consultation service concerning all commodities, as well as helping them in the application for licence, incentive, aid and trainings.

The Lahad Datu 1CSC is located in the Anjung Getah building at the MPOB Research Station.