Page 200 - Westport Guide To Malaysia

192 NATURE, AGRICULTURE & PLANTATIONS - FOREWORD
Malaysia is one of only 17 megadiverse countries, thanks to our tropical location and unique geodiversity which have given rise to an incredible wealth of plant and animal species. This has made us a nature tourism and eco-tourism destination par excellence. This unique set of geographic conditions has also made our soil rich, fertile and productive, creating an ideal environment for the development of the agriculture and plantation sectors.
Many Malaysians have agrarian roots, even though it may be generations ago. Our land and soil are things we feel passionately about. However, farming is no longer the career choice of the poor and uneducated. Modern agriculture requires advanced skills, and to attract the right people into our industry we must offer them suitable rewards. Rural incomes should rise dramatically as the global market increasingly demands high quality, sustainably grown foodstuffs and other agricultural products. Rural quality of life is also improving rapidly. Most of Malaysia’s farmers, breeders, fishermen and planters now have access to good modern roads, fast internet connections and all the amenities that enable them to keep in touch with city life. We are successfully eradicating the urban-rural divide and trying our hardest to ensure that the Malaysian countryside is a conducive place to live and work.
Malaysia’s plantations and commodities sector is one of the most important contributors to our economy. We export over RM120 billion worth of commodity-based products annually, over 18% of the country’s total goods exports. We provide jobs and income for more than 750,000 employees and smallholders, and a further 250,000 jobs in value added manufacturing, more than 12% of the national workforce. Nowadays planters and downstream manufacturers are technocrats, comfortable with high technology and high finance. They are working together with the government to make Malaysia an internationally acknowledged centre of excellence for R&D, technology, services and product innovation. Because of our government’s enlightened policies for sustainable development of the sector, we look forward to a bright future as we strive to make plantations increasingly efficient, quality oriented and sustainable. Most industry players subscribe to No Deforestation, No Peat Development and No Exploitation as per the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil).
Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian
CEO of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad