14 companies approved to rehabilitate 7,500ha of abandoned rubber estates

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Rubber Board has approved the participation of 14 estate management companies (EMCs) under the Consolidation Programme for Abandoned and Untapped Mature Rubber Areas as of September.

The Plantation and Commodities Ministry said this involved 7,576ha of abandoned rubber estates.

"Eight EMCs involving 3,719.47ha of identified abandoned areas have begun phased rehabilitation works since July," the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply.

The ministry was responding to a question from Zahari Kechik (PN-Jeli) on the implementation of the programme to increase rubber production in Malaysia.

It said the programme, which began in 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2027, covers estates owned by government agencies and their subsidiaries, private estates, including rubber forest plantations, as well as smallholder plots.

The programme targets the rehabilitation of 3,000ha of abandoned and untapped mature rubber areas by 2027, aimed at bringing the land back into production and increasing national rubber output.

"Once the areas are brought back for tapping, rubber production is expected to increase gradually towards an additional target of at least 4,500 metric tonnes of natural rubber a year.

"The programme is also expected to create employment opportunities for rural communities, particularly younger people, while providing opportunities for cooperatives and rubber entrepreneurs to participate as EMCs," it said.