05 January 2009

Malaysia needs 200,000 ha of land in Kalimantan

ANTARA News, 01/04/09 22:17

Malaysian Religious Affairs Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia`s Hajj Saving Institution was seeking 200,000 hectares of land for oil palm plantations in Kalimantan.

"Tabung Haji Plantation (THP) which handles hajj savings in the plantation sector is now looking for 200,000 hectares of land in Kalimantan for its palm oil plantation business," the minister said when attending the launch of the Ade Nasution Center here on Sunday.

He said that Malaysia would continue to expand its hajj plantation saving business in Indonesia.

Hamidi said that the THB already had some 22,000 ha of land in Riau province, Sumatra. "I have asked that about 5 percent of the oil palm plantation proceeds should be given to those who deserve it in Sumatra," the minister said.

"Thank God, there have been 10 million ringgit of the THP profit which has been channeled to those who deserve it," the minister said.

He said that the THP program in Riau has employed a total of 22,000 workers. About 22 elementary schools, three lower secondary and one upper secondary schools have also been built there.

The THP has also built seven mosques within the plantation areas, and in the last Idul Fitri holidays, the institutions also provided 50,000 copies of the Holy Koran for workers and the locals.

Copyright © 2009 ANTARA

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