MALAYSIA: Fewer cases of people stealing rubber

Cases of people stealing rubber from plantations has decreased as many owners are now guarding their holdings themselves.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohammad Shafie Apdal said many plantation owners had also decided not to hire foreigners.

“The price of rubber is currently RM15.06 per kilo which is the highest it has even been.

“This has resulted in plantation owners guarding the commodity more closely which has reduced the amount of rubber stolen from their estates,” he said during a press conference after launching a rubber replanting campaign in Labis on 7 Jan. 2011.

Shafie said that many plantation owners were enjoying the high price of rubber and earning an average of RM5,600 for every two hectares.

“This is very encouraging and we are working to increase the yield by using new techniques and tools,” he said.

Shafie added that rubber plantations were also becoming increasingly popular in Sabah and Sarawak as well.

He added that the Ministry would also be working with countries like Indonesia and Thailand to ensure the price of rubber remains stable.

(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)