PETALING JAYA: Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) has refuted new allegations by Hong Kong-based activist group Liberty Shared on the risk of bribery, wage theft and money laundering in the plantation company.
SDP said in their latest statement, Liberty Shared highlighted these allegations when SDP’s plantation workers hold their account at the same bank as the group, an issue that it had not mentioned in the previous petition.
“SDP views this statement with serious concerns as it is insinuating the possibility of one of Malaysia’s most respected banking institutions colluding to wage theft with SDP, in addition to money laundering. This veiled remark must be substantiated with strong and clear evidence, as by implication, it also raises the question on the credibility of the related financial institution that is subjected to stringent banking laws and regulatory framework,” SDP said in a statement today.
SDP added that it has no means to investigate these issues thoroughly without substantive details.
It pointed out should there be any instances of such allegations, the National Union of Plantation Workers would have brought the issue to light and conducted an immediate probe into the issue.
It also noted that the Malaysian Department of Labour has also been conducting regular inspection on the wages paid and would have taken prompt action against SDP, had wage theft occurred.
