KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is open to approving foreign workers for oil palm harvesting, provided the plantation industry commits to reducing its reliance on migrant labour through mechanisation.
He also said any abuse of workers, including foreign workers, must be met with firm action.
Speaking at the 14th Malaysia Madani Scholars Forum today, Anwar was responding to a question from a plantation industry representative who said most planters had yet to receive their foreign worker quotas for this year.
Also on the panel were Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, SD Guthrie Bhd president and group chief executive officer Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad, and PNB Research Institute chief executive officer Dr Sarena Che Omar.
