ISP-MPI partnership aims to improve plantation management performance, efficiency in Sarawak

SIBU: Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) and Incorporated Society of Planters (ISP) are jointly offering the Certificate of Plantation Management (CPM) Programme which will be made available in Sibu, Bintulu and Kuching.

MPI principal Hii King Kai said MPI and ISP had inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in March last year to seal a partnership to improve the performance and efficiency of plantation management in Sarawak.

This initiative, he said, was implemented through the Business Recovery Scheme launched by the state government, in cooperation with the Sarawak Business Federation (SBF).

“ISP, as the owner of the CPM programme, has entrusted MPI to run the course here, in Sarawak.

“The technical modules in this programme will be run by coaches from Peninsular Malaysia or experienced trainers approved by the ISP’s Technical Education Scheme Committee (TES),” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

According to Hii, the programme has been receiving a notably encouraging response from the people in Sibu and Bintulu.

“The course slots in Sibu and Bintulu are already full but we still have a significant number of individuals on the waiting lists,” he disclosed, adding that there were still available slots for those who wished to join the programme in Kuching.

“MPI would like to thank the government for providing the support and financial framework for the implementation of this educational programme, as well as to the Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa).

Hii, however, opined that it would be good if the state government extend the assistance scheme to cater to the growing demand for the CPM Programme.

Present at the press conference were Soppoa chief executive officer Dr Felix Moh, ISP Technical Education Scheme official Mohd Sabre Salim, and ISP Central Sarawak official Ling Chia Yi.