THE SAWIT IMPERATIVES.

Papa waved at Squire Bobby the Planter, he was across the road from where bobby stood, having alighted from his vintage Honda motorbike, the preferred mode of transport in this quaint riverine cum coastal town north of Johore. Young or old, modest or ample, the townfolks seemed to be getting around very comfortably in their cubs or scooters consisting mostly of contemporary makes
Beckoning papa to proceed to Ah Luck ‘Kopitiam’ situated via a short backlane in between the shop buildings, Bobby made his way there whilst papa carefully crossed the visibly busy main thoroughfare. Having seated, Bobby ordered his favourite local blended Kopi O kosong. Papa, from his frequent sawit runs throughout the years has since acquired an implacable liking for the local brew preferring it wholesomely black without sugar, not unlike the Squire’s favorite cuppa.
Sipping his caffeine imbued beverage, Bobby asked papa what was the harvest like? Papa said it was quite O K, concurrent with the family’s smallholdings sawit cycle having run out its bottom line yield, thenceforth, pretty much on the way up. The only setback being the ever escalating operating costs with monthly operational debts owed to the Towkay Baja and Towkay Buah not seeing any substantial reductions forecasted or otherwise. Nevertheless the liabilities are still within the accepted limits, altogether serviceable and healthily conducive to a near upwardly geared sawit management style or in simple talk-“cukup-cukup cari makan lah”.- Papa’s unrelenting flair for the dramatics! Let’s just hope, sawit prices do not drastically plummet downwards to a fraction of what the prices were, not unlike the early 2000 bitter experience. If that happened, papa will sure “MAMPUS” one!
Bobby, sounding a slight disheartened apprised papa on the less than favourable production figures obtained from his plantation down south. Understandable, considering the at times, near temperamental nature of sawit, due to its strictly biological composition
There are occurrences whence no matter how much the amount of care and undue diligence rendered, would still not give the expected results. However the said condition will only be for a short duration and things will eventually and unavoidably go back to normal.
Meanwhile, emerging as if from nowhere, sauntered in a jelitawan- tall, well endowed though a bit lanky yet nicely proportioned, making her a much attractive lass. Of oriental persuasion, she couldn’t be a Muarian or even a Malaysian, for that matter. Papa seemed to notice whenever, he and Bobby had their coffee at Ah Luck, these girls happened to appear, sometimes a bevy of them- at one go. An explanation could be, them making Ah Luck their short cuts as the Kopitiam cuts through two main streets. If ever there be other reasons, papa and Bobby just do not want to speculate. In all likelihood, there would also be the not so savoury explications, one being, the girls belonging to a syndicate. As to what constitute the syndicate, papa and Bobby could not really elucidate further, for it’s beyond their sphere of activities or their understanding-matter of fact speaking, that is.
Returning to the sawit part of the story after much digressing, it must be said that in order to grow sawit successfully, wherefore, acquiring sizeable returns-size do play an important part. Unlike papa’s family holdings of which is quite marginal compared to Bobby’s total acreage, earnings, on papa’s part will to a great extent, be dictated by the vagaries of the commodity’s market. Bobby, on the other hand will be much shielded, due to his total holdings, buoyant liquidity and considerable resources.
Looking at his watch, Bobby had to excuse himself, for it was time to collect his son from tuition class. TA mate, see you in two weeks time…God Willing…