Overripe palm oil fruits hang untouched in trees while others lie rotting scattered around a plantation, as Malaysian farmers reap the bitter harvest of a severe labor shortage.
“A lot of bunches of fruit are rotting on the trees,” Suzaidee Rajan, 47, who owns a300-acre plantation in Ijok, central Selangor state, told AFP.
Palm oil is a controversial commodity, blamed by environmentalists for fueling the destruction of rainforest in Malaysia and Indonesia, which together produce 85 percent of global output. Agricultural firms run large estates, while there are also numerous small-scale farmers like Suzaidee.Other Malaysian industries, including construction and manufacturing, also rely on migrant workers from across Asia, and suffered as a result of lengthy pandemic border closures.
Hermono — Indonesia’s ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, who goes by one name — said Jakarta took the decision as Malaysia was not abiding by an agreement aimed at protecting his compatriots.
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