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Review of
Operations
Security
The Security Department has played a significant role in the
Group’s operations throughout the year in review. Security
personnel are located at all of the Group’s estates and mills,
where they monitor and enforce security activities and
regulations, with the objective of providing total security
throughout SPB.
During the year the Group focused on making this
department more formidable and service oriented. To
achieve this the Group formed its own Auxiliary Police Unit,
with members of our security team undergoing training
at the Royal Malaysian Police Training School at Kuching,
Sarawak.
The security team now has full legal powers to stop, check
and arrest any perpetrator that commits or attempts to
commit crimes anywhere in our estates or mills. The training
has also strengthened personal ties and formal relations
between the security team and local police and other
enforcement agencies, improving access to their manpower
and resources when required.
As well as setting-up the Auxiliary Police Unit, the Group
also focused on continuous training for all its security
personnel during the year. This is to improve and enhance
its overall security and also to prepare for the Group’s
planned expansion. During the year 2013 the Group will
continue in-service training and also plans to embark on the
formation of a K-9 Dog Unit to reinforce and increase the
overall capability of the Security function.
Procurement
The Procurement Department was set up in year 2012 to
enhance and improve the process of tendering as well as the
direct procurement of goods and services. The Procurement
Department's objectives are to provide reliable services to
all operating units, centralising the purchasing function
for the entire Group to take advantage of competitive
prices through quantity discounts, well-planned ordering
schedules, better negotiation strategies and earlier and
more accurate anticipation of requirements.
It is in line with the cost control efforts of the Group, as
well as to provide a more efficient supply chain. More
importantly, the tender and procurement processes
have been considerably strengthened and are subject to
continuous monitoring, in order to enhance transparency
and governance with regards to the purchase of goods and
services.
Information & Communication
Technology
The Information & Communication Technology serves the
Group by applying and integrating information resources to
provide and enhance a secure IT environment and maintain
the Group’s systems. It focuses on the continuous upgrading
of hardware and infrastructure with the aim of improving
information technology operations and providing quality
support to the Group.
Implementation of Wide Area Network
During the year 2012, the Group continued work on the
implementation of the Wide Area Network (WAN) that
connects the Miri Operating Head Office, Corporate Office
Kuching, SP Lab, mills and estates using VSAT and wireless
access connections. The WAN is used mainly for system
integrating, e-mailing, data sharing and internet access. The
installation was fully completed in November 2012.
Estate Management System
The Estate Management System (EMS) is an integrated
information system that serves all operating units within the
Group, with special emphasis on estate management of the
Group's plantations. It provides a wide variety of analytical,
information and management tools to optimise the Group's
business activities and to strengthen its operational control,
efficiency and effectiveness. The implementation of EMS is
by stages. In year 2012, trial run was carried out in two
estates. The Group targets to fully implement EMS to all
operating units by 2013.
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SARAWAK PLANTATION BERHAD
ANNUAL REPORT 2012