The Malaysian Palm Oil Association said resolving this particular issue would allow the industry to optimise returns from the current bullish prices, as well as help the government increase its tax revenue.

“The industry fully appreciates and lauds the initiative announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently that the government is considering issuing temporary work permits to illegal foreign workers in the country to overcome the shortage of workers in the oil palm and rubber industries.

“We fully appreciate the government’s efforts to resolve the predicament faced by the industry and smallholders and to recognise the importance of the oil palm sector’s contribution to the wellbeing of the country’s economy.

“And we sincerely hope that this latest initiative will be implemented as soon as possible,” MPOA chief executive Mohamad Nageeb Wahab said in a statement.

He said the industry had made bold steps and taken real efforts to recruit locals to work in the plantations but the response had been lukewarm until now.

Nageeb said the industry is also seriously looking at automating and mechanising estate operations in order to reduce dependency on guest workers but effective implementation can only be visible in the near future.

“It is our sincere wish that the government will also consider allowing guest workers on leave back in their countries to return here to continue working and unfreeze the recruitment of foreign workers for this sector very soon.

“The industry gives its assurance that all SOPs and guidelines introduced by the government will be strictly adhered to. We will wholeheartedly support all efforts made to address the Covid-19 pandemic in the country,” he said.