Next Chapter Media's editorial team strives to provide accurate and reliable information. However, we recommend that readers independently verify the claims and information presented in our publications. Next Chapter Media is not responsible for the accuracy of the content and encourages readers to use their own judgment when evaluating the information.
DIRECTOR
Emily Yu
PUBLICATION
Maps & Globe Specialist Distributor Sdn. Bhd (625396-A) No 3-1 Jalan Perdana 10/6, Pandan Perdana, 55300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
PRINTING
Fong Wah Printing Sdn. Bhd. (1406717K) No. 17, JaIan Tembaga SD 5/2G Perindustrian Bandar Sri Damansara, Pekan Kepong, 52200 Kuala Lumpur Technology:
e Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) will meet palm oil industry stakeholders to clarify issues over the Sales and Service Tax (SST), said Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin.
He said the session will address confusion over de ning “ nal products,” as items deemed nal for one producer may serve as raw materials for another. e aim is to avoid unintended cost burdens cascading through the supply chain.
Chan noted ongoing talks with the Finance Ministry but said unresolved concerns require direct engagement. He also welcomed proposals from the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA), which has warned of adverse e ects on SMEs, innovation, and Malaysia’s global glove industry if a 5% SST on latex is imposed.
KPK to Engage Palm Oil Industry on SST Implementation
(1 July 2025)
Separately, Chan highlighted e orts to revive cocoa plantations, focusing on premium varieties to meet global demand for sustainable, traceable, high-quality cocoa products.
Replanting Key to Sustaining Palm Oil
Yields
(5 August 2025)
Timely replanting of ageing oil palm trees is vital to sustain productivity and protect Malaysia’s palm oil export market, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani told the Dewan Rakyat.
He warned that delaying replanting beyond a tree’s 25–27-year lifespan can slash yields from 28 tonnes per hectare to just four or ve, jeopardising future output and export volumes.
Large players like Sime Darby, United Plantations, and KLK consistently reinvest in replanting due to strong nances and export reliance, Johari noted.
“Neglecting replanting will hurt productivity and our ability to meet export demand,” he said, stressing the need for industry-wide commitment to ensure long-term sustainability.
e Federal Government will invest RM1.4 billion over ve years to accelerate palm oil replanting under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani announced. Speaking at the Johor Baru Umno division annual meeting, Johari said the initiative targets smallholders with ageing trees to boost yields and maintain Malaysia’s position as the world’s second-largest palm oil producer. “Our exports are currently worth RM115 billion. With timely replanting, we can increase productivity and further expand export potential,” he said.
Federal Government to Invest RM1.4bil in Palm Oil Replanting Under 13MP
(3 August 2025)
e 13MP debate begins 4 Aug 25, allowing MPs to provide feedback. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has pledged support for strategic sectors like oil palm, rubber and cocoa through high-impact, technology-driven initiatives to enhance productivity. Johari stressed that consistent replanting will secure Malaysia’s long-term competitiveness in the global palm oil market.
Oil palm sector navigates slippery
slope
(28 June 2025)
e Star did a cover feature on the oil palm sector Malaysia’s oil palm industry as it faces a critical challenge with over 9.3% of its plantations consist of trees older than 25 years, which are less productive and harder to harvest. Replanting is urgently needed, yet the national rate remains low at 2.1%—well below the 4% target. Independent smallholders, who manage 27% of oil palm land, show an alarmingly low replanting rate of 0.5%. e government has allocated RM100 million annually in 2024 and 2025 to support smallholders through grants and so loans. However, industry experts argue this is far from su cient and call for increased funding, tax incentives, and a national replanting fund to accelerate e orts.
High CPO prices since 2020 have discouraged replanting, but failure to act could cost Malaysia up to two million tonnes of lost output annually. Mechanisation is also crucial, with MPOB’s MARCOP initiative working on scalable harvesting solutions. Meanwhile, structural headwinds—including ageing trees, labour shortages, sustainability compliance costs, and EU trade barriers—are capping sector growth. Analysts forecast modest CPO production and exports for 2025, with little acreage expansion expected due to policy restrictions in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Industry leaders warn that without urgent, coordinated action, Malaysia risks long-term competitiveness in the global palm oil market.
In this opinion piece, the author highlights that Malaysia’s oil palm industry spanning 5.6 million hectares and underpins over RM100 billion in annual revenue, yet productivity is constrained by a persistent shortage of skilled plantation workers. National yields average 16.7 tonnes per hectare — well below the 25–30 tonnes achieved by top-performing estates. Closing even part of this gap could generate billions in additional revenue and signi cant tax contributions.
Harvesting is highly labour-intensive, and while mechanisation has improved evacuation, spraying, and fertilising, it has yet to overcome the practical challenges of tall palms, varied terrain, and weather conditions. Skilled workers remain indispensable.
Many of these roles are ones most Malaysians have moved away from, requiring sustained, transparent, and well-managed recruitment channels to complement mechanisation e orts.
Complicated Question of the Plantation Workforce
Addressing workforce needs through sector-speci c solutions, constructive engagement, and cross-ministerial coordination will be critical to safeguarding yields, sustaining livelihoods for four million Malaysians, and maintaining our competitive position in the global market.
Frankly Speaking: Malaysian Planters Face Tough Choices in Indonesia
(14 July 2025)
e Edge put up an article that in July 2025, Indonesia planters handed over nearly 400,000 ha of seized oil palm plantations to Agrinas Palma Nusantara, a new state-owned enterprise managing land taken from companies operating illegally in forest areas. With over 833,000ha under its control, Agrinas could become one of the world’s largest planters. CIMB Securities warned that Agrinas’ plan to take over or reforest up to three million hectares poses rising regulatory risks for Malaysian companies in Indonesia.
Subsidiaries of Genting Plantations, Kuala Lumpur Kepong, and SD Guthrie were named in a forestry decree for operating without permits, though they have applied to legalise the land. e move could impact ESG scores and adds to the challenges of doing business in Indonesia — a market where some Malaysian rms, like Boustead, Kulim, and TDM, have already exited.
Will Malaysian planters be revisiting the question of exiting Indonesia with this recent development? But given the limited opportunities for land expansion in both Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as the he y investments made in the palm oil ecosystem in the archipelago, do they really have a choice? A Hobson’s choice.
CPO prices face renewed pressure as Malaysian stockpiles surged to a 19-month high of 2.23 million tonnes in July 2025. Despite the buildup, analysts expect prices to stay between RM3,800 and RM4,500 per tonne for the rest of the year.
Malaysia Palm Oil Association CEO Roslin Azmy Hassan attributed the inventory rise to stronger production, aided by improved weather and harvesting, while exports lagged due to weaker demand from major buyers like India and China.
Analysts caution that high stockpiles may persist until October, especially with the seasonal production peak and upcoming US soybean harvest. BIMB Securities expects prices to so en to RM3,700 in the near term, but anticipates a rebound to RM4,100–RM4,200 later in the year, supported by monsoon disruptions and pre-festival restocking. CIMB’s Ivy Ng sees a price range of RM3,800–RM4,300, noting biodiesel demand and policy changes in Indonesia and the US as key factors. Risks include weather, currency uctuations, and narrowing CPO-soybean oil price spreads.
CPO Prices Under Pressure Amid High Stockpiles
(7 August 2025)
Still, former industry executive Joseph Tek believes the current stockpile level is “neutral” and not alarming. He remains cautiously optimistic, citing regional consumption shi s and Indonesia’s growing domestic usage. Looking ahead, key factors in uencing the market include production trends, US Renewable Volume Obligations and biodiesel policy shi s. Tek expects CPO to trade between RM4,100 and RM4,500, with price swings of ~ 10% possible due to global developments.
209,033 oil palm smallholders obtained MPSO certi cation
(8 September 2025)
A total of 209,033 oil palm smallholders in Malaysia, covering 747,012 hectares, had obtained Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MPSO) certi cation as of August 31. Of these, 29,918 smallholders are in Sabah, with 184,564 hectares of certi ed plantations.
e Madani government has allocated over RM2 million to the Pitas district in Sabah to strengthen smallholder participation in the sustainable palm oil value chain.
Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin presented a cheque of RM713,322 to eight smallholders under the Oil Palm Smallholder Replanting Financing Incentive Scheme (TSPKS) 2.0, covering a replanting area of 39.63 ha. is grant is a matching scheme for smallholders with a planting area of less than 10 hectares. A total of 707 applications covering 3,034.20 hectares have been approved for Sabah so far.
To ensure smallholders' active involvement, the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has established 49 Tunas branches nationwide, sta ed by approximately 190 Tunas o cers. ese o ces o er support services and guidance on sustainable palm oil certi cation, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and assistance with replanting old and unproductive palm oil trees. ey act as technology transfer agents, channelling government assistance and advisory services to smallholders.
European Union Acknowledges MSPO as a Credible and Inclusive Sustainability Standard
Supporting EUDR Compliance
e European Union has o cially acknowledged the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certi cation as a credible sustainability standard with a high-standard digital traceability system that can facilitate operators’ compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). is acknowledgement reinforces MSPO’s role as Malaysia’s national framework for sustainable palm oil and highlights its contribution to global trade and responsible sourcing.
Audited by independent third-party certi cation bodies, MSPO is a mandatory standard that spans the entire palm oil value chain, from smallholders and growers to mills, dealers and processors. It ensures legality, transparency, inclusivity and accountability at every stage, aligning production with international market requirements and guaranteeing integrity and credibility.
Anchored by a strict cut-o date of 31 December 2019 prohibiting deforestation for certi cation, MSPO gives buyers and regulators con dence that certi ed palm oil is legally sourced and deforestation-free. With its high-standard digital traceability system, MSPO enables full supply chain visibility and strengthens trust among global stakeholders.
YB Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said:
“ is acknowledgement by the European Union a rms Malaysia’s leadership in sustainable palm oil. MSPO provides assurance on legality, cut-o date compliance, and digital traceability, while ensuring that more than half a million smallholders are fully part of the sustainability agenda. It demonstrates that Malaysia can meet global market expectations without leaving anyone behind.”
“ e EU’s acknowledgement also underscores MSPO’s credibility as a trusted and future-ready standard. It assures global buyers that Malaysian palm oil is legally sourced, traceable, and sustainable, anchored in the livelihoods of smallholders and backed by a mandatory national framework.”
As global sustainability requirements intensify, MSPO o ers a durable and scalable framework for responsible sourcing. By embedding legality, a strict no-deforestation cut-o date, and advanced traceability, MSPO supports operators’ compliance with the EUDR and strengthens Malaysia’s position as a trusted partner in sustainable global trade.
is acknowledgement was made in the o cial EU–Malaysia Joint Statement entitled “EU and Malaysia Agree to Strengthen eir Partnership and Continue eir Joint E orts Against Deforestation,” issued following the visit of Her Excellency Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, to Malaysia on 5 August 2025. e https://www.eeas.europa.eu/delegations/malaysia/eu-and-malaysia-agree-strengthen-their-partnership-and-continue-their-joint-e or
European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall and Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Ghani visited Carey Island today to see local empowerment initiatives for indigenous communities and sustainable farming e orts in action at a smallholder plantation.
Harvesting Value: Palm Oil, MSPO and the Carbon Market
As sustainability becomes a critical priority across the globe, the Malaysian palm oil industry is embracing innovative ways to align with international climate goals. One of the most promising avenues gaining traction is the carbon credit market. While the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certi cation already sets a high bar for responsible production, carbon credits o er a powerful, market-based tool to incentivize further environmental stewardship and create new revenue streams for plantations.
What Are Carbon Credits
A carbon credit represents the right to emit one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). ink of it as a nancial mechanism that puts a price on carbon emissions. Companies that reduce their emissions or remove carbon from the atmosphere can earn these credits. ey can then sell them to other companies that need to o set their own emissions to meet regulatory or voluntary targets.
For the palm oil industry, this means that practices that sequester carbon, like implementing energy-e cient practices or adopting reforestation projects, can be monetised.
e Role of MSPO and Carbon Credits
e Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certi cation is the cornerstone for linking palm oil production to the global climate agenda. e standard's core principles already promote practices that reduce environmental impact, such as preventing deforestation, managing waste, and conserving biodiversity. Integrating carbon credits within this framework provides an additional market-based incentive for certi ed entities to further lower their carbon footprint.
For instance, plantations that adopt energy-e cient practices or implement reforestation projects can generate carbon credits. ese credits represent a quanti able reduction or removal of greenhouse gases and can be sold on carbon markets, providing a nancial return while also helping Malaysia meet its climate goals.
Currently, there are several platforms for carbon credits, including well-known ones like Bursa Malaysia’s Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) and Verra Veri ed Carbon Standard. ese platforms o er comprehensive guides on the use and application of carbon credits. In a move to further strengthen the link, the MSPO is developing its own platform or methodology for calculating carbon credits. is will create a streamlined and veri able system for MSPO-certi ed entities. MSPO has o cially published its MSPO GHG Procedure and an Introductory MSPO GHG Calculator to help entities measure and report their emissions and removals.
e Way Forward
By combining the strength of the MSPO certi cation with a proactive approach to carbon credit generation, the industry can not only meet its sustainability commitments but also unlock new economic opportunities for planters.
Edited by Zahidah Zahidi
Source: Carbon Credits in the context of MSPO, Yusman Haruna, MSPO http://mspo.org.my/carbon-credits-in-the-context-of-mspo/
In our Palm Oil Industry Networking Dinner 2025, we will invite Associate Professor Dr. Benchamaporn Pimpa, who will share rst-hand insights on the progress of the groundbreaking smallholder carbon credit project. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry peers and experts and to understand how you can be a part of this exciting new frontier.
19 November 2025 Malaysian Petroleum Club Floor 42, Tower 2 , KLCC
A pre-event networking dinner of 2nd Unlocking Revenue & Sustainability: Exploring Carbon Credit Opportunities in the Palm Oil Industry
Carbon credits to strengthen sustainability, MSPO, and ESG alignment
How millers & smallholders can turn carbon credits into real income
2,000 smallholder families in Thailand are in the process of qualifying for carbon credits.
ASEAN biomass in focus: Business-driven discussion on key strategies for monetisation and impact�
Scan QR to view the event brochure
Enjoy an exclusive skyline dining experience with industry peers while engaging in a short, high-impact forum on carbon credit opportunities in Malaysia’s palm oil sector.
Connect with plantation owners, millers, traders, and policymakers
Gain insider knowledge to prepare your business for carbon markets
Position your company at the forefront of ESG & sustainability strategies�
Echoes from the Past: Estate Names with Roots
By Joseph Tek Choon Yee
Once Upon a Time in Ladangland
In Malaysia’s early plantation days, life was muddy, leechy and wildly creative. While latex owed and FFB harvested, so did the quirky art of estate naming. ese weren’t just names for maps; they were full of soul, humour and sometimes, mischief.
Naming wasn’t formality, it was folklore. Etched in memory, whispered over teh tarik, scribbled in ledgers that smelled of must and Merdeka.
So here’s to those names - cheeky, charming, and utterly unforgettable. A muddy little reminder that plantations weren’t just built on land, but on stories too.
Veteran planters remember the names the way others remember Beatles lyrics - awlessly, fondly and with a hint of mischief. Bukit Cheeding, Sungai Sedu, Batang Berjuntai (yes, that one)—names that told you something about the land, or at least made you pause and chuckle.
en came a wave of change, not without reason. Many estate names were updated, some to re ect post-independence identity, some in honour of national leaders, others under the broad corporate push for modernisation. Guthrie was among the early movers, and suddenly Bukit something became Ladang Tun Dr Ismail or Ladang Tun Hussein Onn. ese weren’t arbitrary. ey were respectful nods to the nation’s heroes and a shi toward a more uni ed national narrative. Understandable. Even admirable. But for some old-timers, it felt a bit like renaming Grandma’s kitchen.
Names with Sri or Seri began appearing, o en with eleganceLadang Seri Intan, Sri Tanjung, Seri Gading. ese bore an unmistakable grace and dignity. But for those raised on rugged maps and even more rugged terrain, there was something earthy and real about the old names - like Telok Datok, Batu Lintang or Lukut Estate. Names you could smell a er a downpour.
Some estates wore their geography proudly - Bukit Gila, a hill in Melaka, for example. Others nodded to colonial legacies or lucky numbers. Carey Island kept it simple: North, South, East, West. Minimalist genius, or just tired surveyors? You’d never get lost unless you were directionally hopeless or very, very creative.
en there was Guthrie Ropel Berhad - ROPEL standing for Rubber Oil Palm Estates Limited. Only the British could turn estate ownership into something that sounded like a gentleman’s club or a colonial rope manufacturer. It had that classic colonial charm - e cient, botanical and just posh enough to be taken seriously over tea and rubber prices.
And among the Chinese-owned estates? Names were o en bold with meaning: Chee Seng (Wisdom leads to success), Fook Hing (Prosperity and Blessings), Chin Teck (True Virtue) – and many more. Built on blessings, prosperity and ancestral pride. ese names weren’t just decorative - they were declarations of values and hopes. Owners and Planters who chose such names weren’t only branding their estates; they were embedding blessings into the land. eir maps may not have made it into modern GIS systems, but their stories certainly did.
As for who approved estate names? at’s still a mystery. Maybe it was just a chop, a telex, and a good name the mandore could shout across the eld without getting tongue-tied. Perhaps some form existed deep within the MPO-soup alphabet empire and deep in the vaults of the MPOA, MPOB, MPOC, ISP, MEOA or even LGM, there's a dusty folder titled “Cool Estate Names of Malaya, Vol. 1” - but don't hold your breath.
And speaking of mandores and memories, we can’t forget the mighty SOCFIN, that quiet French powerhouse of planting pedigree. eir estates were like characters in a colonial epic, each with its own chapter:
For example, Ladang Sungai Ular – serpentine in name, strategic in location; Ladang Lima Blas – not een candles, but certainly a shining star in Perak. Ladang Klapa Bali – hinting at coconuts, oil palm and tropical dreams; Ladang Minyak – simply, simpleoil. Ladang Sungai Tinggi – high river, higher standards.
How about Ladang Nigel Gardner – probably the only estate that sounded like a cricketer. Ladang Batu Arang – where coal met crop. Ladang Bukit Tagar – today, "tagar" in a Malay context refers to the same concept as a hashtag (#) in English, imagine it being revised to #Hashtag Hill Estate in under today’s terminology; Ladang Johor Labis – rubber-rooted, palm-passionate.
Ladang Claire – elegant and mysterious, like an old English novel; Ladang Budu – short name, big yields and not to be confused with the anchovy sauce from Kelantan.
Meanwhile, in 1982, a Standard 6 boy named Sathish was elbow-deep in his own plantation research project. No internet. No Google. Just books, estate journals, and a ledger lovingly lled by hand with an ink pen. Photos developed the old way – 35 mm lm and all. His father, MR Chandran then at Minyak Estate, was his main source and eld guide. e young lad even learned the sacred oil palm trinity: Dura, Pisifera, Tenera. His teacher gave it an A+ - which, in those days, actually meant something.
But like many precious things, the ledger vanished in the shu e of life - moves, packing and the great disappearing act that comes with cardboard boxes. It’s gone. But the story isn’t.
And today? Everything’s online. Stored, shared, downloaded, re-downloaded, uploaded to the cloud and occasionally forgotten in someone’s Google Drive. But the magic of that lost ledger lives on—not in pixels, but in passion. Stories matter. Even if the signs change, the soul remains.
Tennamaram Estate: e Coconut Confusion at Started It All
Over a century ago, in the leafy depths of Batang Berjuntai, now given a PR-friendly faceli as Bestari Jaya, something quietly historic took root. It was 1911, and Frenchman Henri Fauconnier - fresh from seeing oil palm success in Sumatradecided to ditch co ee beans for palm nuts. By 1917, his estate, Tennamaram, had the honour of becoming Malaysia’s very rst commercial oil palm plantation.
Now, here’s where it gets delightfully ironic. “Tennamaram” isn’t some colonial surname or mystical jungle name - it’s Tamil for coconut tree (“tennam maram”). So why, pray tell, is our rst oil palm estate named a er the wrong tree?
Bangsar: From Rubber Roots to Hipster Cafés
Because, legend has it, the Tamil estate workers - faced with unfamiliar young oil palm seedlings—thought they looked suspiciously like coconut trees and dubbed the place accordingly. Never mind that the proper Tamil for oil palm is sempanai maram or enney panai. e name stuck. And thus,Malaysia’s billion-ringgit oil palm industry was launched with a cheerful case of botanical mistaken identity.
So, the next time you drive past a high-yielding plantation, remember: it all started with a Frenchman, a few seeds and very likely, a name lost in translation.
Long before Bangsar became the land of at whites and yoga studios, it was all rubber boots and tapping knives. Back in 1906, when horse-drawn carriages were losing the race to motorcars, the London-based Kuala Lumpur Rubber Co. Ltd. (KLR) sprang into action, eager to cash in on the global tyre boom.
Enter two European plantation pioneers: Edouard Bunge (a Belgian with a air for commerce) and Alfred Grisar (a Frenchman with a knack for estates). ese men weren’t just founders - they were name donors. Combining their surnames, they christened the rubber estate Bunge-Grisar.
Elegant? Yes. But try saying “Bunge-Grisar” ve times under the Malayan sun while swatting mosquitoes. So, the locals did what Malaysians do best—they shortened it. First to “Bungsar,” and eventually to the slick, syllable-friendly Bangsar we know today.
ank goodness Bunge came before Grisar. Otherwise, we might be sipping overpriced lattes in Sarbang. It sounds vaguely awkward or even comical.
From latex elds to lifestyle hub, Bangsar’s transformation is a tale of global trade, clever abbreviation and a touch of colonial serendipity.
Yam Seng Estate: Where Rubber Met Brandy and Everyone Won
Here’s a toasty tale straight from e Planter archives, courtesy of D.B. Gardner. Around the turn of the 20th century, deep in the rubbery heart of Larut, Perak, a most unusual estate name was born -not from a boardroom brainstorm, but from a party with excellent liquor. e story stars an Irishman - rare among the usual English and Scottish plantation crowd - managing the only Irish-registered rubber company in Malaya. When his company bought land from a Chinese Towkay, custom demanded a proper handover celebration. And by “proper,” we mean brandy. Lots of it.
As the night wore on and glasses were raised, the Chinese guests, in true celebratory style, kept cheering “Yam Seng!”—Cantonese for “Cheers!” or more poetically, “Drink to Victory!” Somewhere between toasts and top-ups, someone asked what to name the new estate. Our Irish hero, clearly li ed by both spirits and spirit, stood up, raised his glass, and declared: “Yam Seng!”
Cue laughter, applause and probably another round. And just like that, the estate was christened—not with ink and seal, but with a toast and a twinkle in the eye.
“Yam Seng” turned out to be more than just a good cheer. It captured the moment - a blend of Irish wit, Chinese warmth, and the shared hope for success in a new venture. It was a name that toasted prosperity, unity and cross-cultural camaraderie long before DEI (ie. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) became a boardroom acronym.
So the next time someone says “Yam Seng,” know that it once named an estate and proved that sometimes, the best branding begins with a brandy.
Nordanal & Lanadron: When Naming Went Full Circle
In the quiet, leafy lanes of Panchor, Johor, one clever planter proved that naming an estate didn’t require divine inspiration - just a mirror. He started with Nordanal. Mysterious, majestic - vaguely Nordic? No one really knew, but it sounded impressive enough to pass muster over a cigar and scotch.
en, when he acquired the estate next door, he didn’t waste time with name committees or Latin root words. He simply ipped it. Nordanal became Lanadron. Voilà.
e workers chuckled, “Tuan just terbalik the name!” And they weren’t wrong. But that simple stroke of reverse genius worked. Both names stuck, sounding like long-lost European dukedoms rather than neighbouring rubber estates in Johor.
To this day, Nordanal and Lanadron of SG Guthrie stand as cheeky monuments to low-e ort brilliance. Proof that sometimes, the smartest move isn’t reinventing the wheel - it’s spinning it backwards.
Some estates were named with ceremony. Others with sentiment. But MOBE? at one was born from pure, undiluted British sarcasm. As told in e Planter, the tale begins with an exasperated Englishman managing a rubber estate in colonial Malaya. Bureaucratic rules at the time required every estate to have a grand signboard with an o cial name—or risk repossession. Our planter, being of the stubborn variety (and possibly low on tea that day), refused to play along.
Pushed to the brink by forms, o cials and red tape, he nally threw up his hands and muttered: "Fine—call it My Own Bloody Estate."
And thus, M.O.B.E. was born—an acronym as sharp as a thorn on a rubber tree.
What started as a grumpy protest became a legend in planter circles. e signboard went up, the estate was saved, and the name stuck like latex on a tapping knife. It’s still remembered today as a perfect blend of colonial obstinance, wit and just enough cheek to outlive its paperwork.
So the next time bureaucracy drives you up the wall, just remember: somewhere in the tropics, one man turned a rant into real estate.
Jeroco and Trushidup: Sabah’s Estates with Swagger and Soul
Now let’s swing over to Sabah, where estate names don’t just sit on signboards - they strut with style.
First up: JEROCO. Sounds like a caped crusader, doesn’t it? But don’t let the superhero vibes fool you—this is plantation branding at its acronymic nest. Coined by Hap Seng Plantations in Lahad Datu, Jeroco isn’t short for Jericho (no biblical walls or trumpet solos here). It’s a clever mash-up of four crops once grown on the land:
JE for Jelutong ; R for Rattan ; O for Oil Palm ; CO for Cocoa
A jungle-themed mixtape of agro-diversity, rolled into six snappy letters.
Of course, time has a way of picking favourites. While jelutong tapped out, rattan unravelled and cocoa got cranky about pests, oil palm thrived like a champion. Today, Jeroco could just as well stand for “Just Exceptional Rows of Cultivation Optimised.” But we’ll let the original acronym stand - it’s got legacy.
en there’s the lyrical TRUSHIDUP, an estate under Genting Plantations Berhad. At rst glance, it sounds like the name of an enchanted rainforest village from a Studio Ghibli lm. But its roots lie in the Malay phrase Terus Hidup, meaning “to live on.”
And what a name it is - Trushidup: bold, upli ing, practically immortal. It conjures up endless rows of palms swaying with purpose, living their best photosynthetic lives, year a er year. It’s not just branding - it’s botanical philosophy.
So whether it’s JEROCO’s acronymic air or TRUSHIDUP’s poetic promise, Sabah’s plantations prove one thing: when it comes to naming estates, a little creativity goes a long way - sometimes all the way to the harvest.
Excellent Challenger 1 & 2: Where “Easy” Was a Lie
Back in my IJM Plantations Bhd days - before it merged into the KLK galaxy - there were two bold-named estates in Sugut, Sabah: Excellent Challenger 1 and Excellent Challenger 2. A mouthful? Absolutely. So, like all good Malaysians, we gave them nicknames.
EC1 and EC2 quickly morphed into “Easy-One” and “Easy-Too”. Catchy, casual - and completely misleading.
ese estates sat by the picturesque Sugut River, which had a nasty habit of over owing. During the rainy and ood season, EC1 and EC2 didn’t look like plantations - they resembled oating gardens. It wasn’t farming. It was ood management with palm trees.
And just when you thought ankle-deep mud was the worst of it - enter the crocodiles. Yes, actual , not the political kind. So in between planting, fertilising and harvesting, we also mastered the ancient art of riverbank side-eye. A true plantation challenge? You bet.
Let’s just say the “Challenger” part was spot on. e “Easy” bit? Not even close.
Ebor Research (Courtesy of Chung Gait Fee)
Ebor Research: From Acronym to A erthought
Once the pride of Sime Darby Plantations' R&D arsenal (back when it was Consolidated Plantations Berhad), Ebor Research in Batu Tiga quietly churned out innovations for oil palm, rubber and cocoa. But few knew that EBOR actually stood for Eastern Borough Oriental Rubber - a London-listed plantation company with a name that sounded more like a tea blend than a scienti c hub.
Ebor has long since shut its doors, but its alumni fondly joke it now stands for "Every-Body Old & Retired." Fitting, perhaps, as the site is now Pinggiran USJ - a residential neighbourhood where test plots once stood, and pipettes gave way to playgrounds.
is shi from research hub to suburb tells a larger story: the quiet fading of Malaysia’s once-mighty plantation R&D landscape. Names like Guthrie Chemara, Golden Hope Prang Besar, OPRS Banting and EPA Kulim have gone the same way - vanished from public memory, living on only in stories told over kopi-O.
Behind those names were unsung heroes - scientists, eld assistants, and lab techs - who helped make Malaysia a global force in tropical crops. eir legacy may be "terpinggir," but it deserves more than a footnote. Because before condos, there was curiosity, and a lot of clever people in muddy boots making it all happen.
Legacy in a Name
As plantations changed hands and the march of progress rolled on, many old estate names were quietly replaced - sometimes for branding, sometimes for bureaucracy and sometimes just because some people at HQ preferred something more “modern.” But with every name scrubbed o a signboard, a small piece of history faded too.
Were the changes necessary? Perhaps. But instead of erasing the past, we might do better to remember it - and maybe even chuckle along the way.
Shakespeare once asked, “What’s in a name?” On plantations, the answer was: quite a lot. Names weren’t just labels - they were love letters, acronyms, toasts, puns and the occasional sarcastic jab. Some honoured people or hometowns; others were born of brandy-fuelled banter or tongue-twisting mix-ups in multiple languages. From Tennamaram to Bangsar, Jeroco to Yam Seng, MOBE to Trushidup, they weren’t just estates - they were stories etched in latex, bunches, sweat and laughter.
ese names once graced trade journals, estate maps, signboards under monsoon skies and the memories of workers, owners and planters alike. And while many have vanished beneath highways, housing estates or corporate gloss, their echoes remain - testaments to a time when plantation life made room for wit, creativity and heart.
Because in the end, a good name - like a well-tended estate block - leaves roots that run deep. And that, truly, is the legacy worth preserving.
AI and machine learning (ML) are transforming agriculture, a change driven by the data-focused approach of precision farming to analyse and address eld variability. ese technologies improve e ciency, increase crop yields, and reduce resource consumption by allowing farmers to make informed decisions tailored to speci c sections of their land. Several studies have been conducted to look at how AI can help with agricultural problems like managing soil and crops and using expert systems to increase productivity.
Impact on e ciency, yield, and resource management
Smarter Planting for Higher Yields
productivity
Studies have shown that AI-guided precision sowing improves crop emergence rates by 15% compared to conventional methods. By analysing soil moisture and temperature, AI determines the most e ective depth for seed placement, ensuring more consistent growth. Similarly, by adjusting seed spacing based on soil quality, AI systems have delivered productivity gains of up to 12%.
Early Detection of Crop Stress
Precision Weed and Pest Management
e AI system used advanced algorithms to analyse weed characteristics and distribution patterns, allowing for the precise application of herbicides only when weeds are present. is led to a 40% decrease in weed biomass. By accurately recognising weed types and growth stages, the AI can determine optimal herbicide doses, resulting in a 35% improvement in herbicide e ectiveness.
By studying spectral ngerprints and leaf re ectance patterns, AI systems can discover early disease indications, leading to a 20% decrease in disease occurrence. Also, these systems use satellite images and machine learning to identify nutrient de ciencies and water stress, enabling precise irrigation and nutrient management, resulting in a 25% increase in crop yield.
Photo credit: Hexagon
Challenges and Future of AI in Agriculture
Data privacy and security concerns
e use of extensive datasets raises critical concerns about data ownership, sharing, and security. Future research and policy must focus on creating robust encryption and transparent data-sharing frameworks to build trust and ensure compliance with data protection laws.
Scalability and accessibility of technology
e high cost and complexity of these technologies can make them inaccessible to small-scale farmers. To address this, there must be a focus on developing more a ordable and user-friendly solutions tailored to diverse agricultural environments.
Emerging trends and potential innovations
Edge computing is allowing for real-time data processing in the eld, while blockchain technology is being explored to ensure supply chain transparency. Furthermore, the rise of AI-powered robotics and autonomous systems o ers the potential for greater e ciency and reduced reliance on human labour.
Smarter Use of Chemicals and Fertilisers
reduction in chemical usage
decrease in fertiliser consumption
By using aerial imaging and weather data, AI system can analyse the density of crop canopy to modify spraying rates for maximum precision. is targeted approach has been shown to reduce chemical usage by 50%. Similarly, AI systems assess soil nutrient levels and crop development patterns to optimise fertiliser application rates, leading to a 40% decrease in fertiliser consumption.
Optimising Timing for Harvest
rough the analysis of meteorological data and historical patterns, the AI system successfully forecasted crop yields and the optimal harvest window, resulting in reduction of 30% post-harvest losses. Furthermore, AI uses crop maturity indicators and eld conditions to optimise harvest scheduling, leading to a signi cant 50% improvement in harvest e ciency. reduction in post-harvest losses improvement in harvest e ciency
Data-Driven Decision Making
Beyond eld operations, AI and ML are enhancing farmers’ decision-making capabilities. Predictive modelling allows growers to anticipate disease outbreaks and weather uctuations, cutting crop loss rates by 20–25%. AI-driven decision support systems also optimise crop distribution and market predictions, reducing post-harvest losses by 15–20% through more e cient supply chain management.
To ensure the successful integration of AI and ML into agriculture, stakeholders, including academics, farmers, and policymakers, should collaborate to promote knowledge sharing, allocate substantial funding for research and development, and implement policies that safeguard farmers' interests and data privacy. is comprehensive approach will help create an inclusive, e ective, and sustainable agricultural future.
Photo credit: Hexagon
The Challenges of the Past
2013: The Birth of the Palm King Blade
The Challenges of the Past
2025 EVENTS
PALMEX Medan 2025
Santika Premiere Dyandra Hotel & Convention, Medan, Indonesia
7 - 9 October
21st Indonesian Palm Oil Conference (IPOC) and 2026 Price Outlook
Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), Bali, Nusa Dua, Indonesia
12-14 November
MPOB International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC) 2025
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
18 - 20 November
2nd Unlocking Revenue and Sustainability: Exploring Carbon Credit Opportunities in the Palm Oil Industry 2025 (Biomass Edition)Kuala Resorts World Awana, Genting Highlands, Malaysiai
5 - 6 December
Palm Oil Economic Review and Outlook (R&O) Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur 12 - 13 January
Palm Oil Conference (POC) 2026 TBC, Kuala Lumpur
9 - 11 February
PALMEX Malaysia 2026
Hall 4 & 5, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre
17 - 18 November
The Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP) recently concluded its highly anticipated 17th National Seminar (NATSEM 2025), an event that served as a critical platform for industry leaders, experts, and practitioners to address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the Malaysian plantation sector. The seminar, themed " From Plantation to Preservation: The Role of Oil Palm in Sustainable Vegetable Oil Production," was a powerful testament to the industry's commitment to sustainability and innovation. The discussions were not merely academic; they were grounded in practical solutions, aiming to equip planters with the tools and strategies needed to navigate a complex and evolving global market.
14-16 JULY 2025
The exhibition area provided a glimpse into the future of plantation agriculture. From precision agriculture technology to new-age fertilisers, the displays demonstrated the industry's embrace of a more tech-driven and eco-conscious approach.
A Commitment Beyond the Bottom Line: A Conversation with ISP's Leadership
Berjaya Waterfront Hotel
Johor Bahru, Johor
In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the seminar, we had the privilege of speaking with the Chairman and CEO of The Incorporated Society of Planters. Our conversation went beyond the speci cs of the event, focusing on the core mission and enduring vision of ISP.
"Our vision about providing a safety net, a support system, and a pathway for career growth. We are here to ensure that our members are equipped with the knowledge and quali cations to thrive, not just survive," the CEO, Rajindran a/l Irusan explained. The Chairman, Datuk Hj Daud Hj Amatzin, emphasised that ISP's role is also about a forward-looking vision for the entire industry. "We are in a dynamic environment, with climate change and global market demands shaping our future. Our job is to lead from the front, to advocate for our members, and to ensure that the Malaysian plantation industry remains a global leader in excellence and sustainability," he stated.
He spoke about the importance of attracting young talent and nurturing the next generation of planters, highlighting the need for a modern and professional image for the industry. "We are working to show that being a planter is a noble and highly skilled profession, one that is critical to our nation's economy and food security."
The insights from NATSEM and the unwavering vision of its leadership paint a promising picture of an industry poised for continued growth and global relevance.
An engaging exchange session between Emily Yu, Managing Director of Maps & Globe, ISP Chairman, Datuk Hj Daud Hj Amatzin, and ISP CEO Rajindran a/l Irusan (from le
Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) www.kpk.gov.my
Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) www.mpoa.org.my
Sarawak Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association (DOPPA) www.doppa.org
Badan Pengelola Dana Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (BPDPKS)
Indonesian Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency https://www.bpdp.or.id/
