Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor said the centres, which collect produce from many of the country’s largest vegetable farms, have been hampered by the latest SOPs which permit businesses to operate only from 8am to 8pm.

Ramli, the country’s first Orang Asli MP, said he had held discussions with the Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association, which wants the collection centres to be allowed to operate later as they are fighting against time to pack their produce.

“The vegetable growers are asking if the centres can operate until 10pm so that their output can meet the demand from within and outside the country,” Ramli told FMT.

He said he would bring it up with the government and the Cameron Highlands District Council.

He said the highlands’ agricultural sector was not facing difficulties in sending supplies abroad, including to Singapore, as most lorries usually begin their journeys at night.

In line with the latest SOPs, the government has given these lorries permission to send vegetables and agricultural items at all times of the day if they have a letter from the international trade and industry ministry (Miti).

However, he said there is a serious manpower shortage due to the pandemic, with a report last month stating that Cameron Highlands needs 8,000 more workers for its farms to be operating at optimum capacity.

“This has been a longstanding issue for farmers here,” he said. “The entry of foreign workers is still frozen, and farm operators have to work on smaller plots of land according to their labour capacity.

“However, I believe the agricultural sector can still continue to meet the demand for vegetables in the country.”