Penambahbaikan sokongan institusi ke atas program parol di masa hadapan dalam pengurusan tanaman kelapa sawit (Enhancing institutional support for future parole programmes in oil palm plantation management)

Abstract

Industri sawit Malaysia, khususnya sektor huluan, berdepan cabaran kekurangan buruh tempatan dan kebergantungan tinggi kepada buruh asing. Bagi mengatasi isu ini, kerajaan memperkenalkan penempatan orang diparol di ladang sawit melalui program pemulihan luar penjara. Kajian ini bertujuan mengenal pasti faktor kejayaan program pemulihan tersebut serta mencadangkan penambahbaikan pada masa hadapan bagi memberikan impak yang lebih konstruktif dari segi pemulihan sosial bagi bekas banduan ini. Kaedah kajian berbentuk kualitatif menggunakan pendekatan kajian kes pelbagai. Data dikumpul melalui temu bual separa berstruktur terhadap 17 orang informan terdiri daripada pegawai kerajaan, pegawai parol, pengurus ladang, serta pihak industri sawit. Data dianalisis menggunakan ATLAS.ti 23 untuk memetakan tema-tema utama. Dapatan menunjukkan program pemulihan orang diparol di ladang sawit berjaya dari tiga aspek: (i) sistem perlindungan sosial, (ii) sokongan sosial, dan (iii) kawalan kendiri. Namun, kelemahan dari segi sokongan institusi masih wujud terutama ketiadaan dasar yang jelas dan kesediaan majikan yang tidak seimbang. Implikasi kajian ini menunjukkan program parol di ladang sawit wajar diperluaskan secara inklusif sebagai strategi serampang dua mata untuk menyelesaikan isu kekurangan buruh serta menyokong proses reintegrasi banduan. Kajian ini juga mencadangkan supaya program parol dilihat bukan semata-mata sebagai tenaga kerja alternatif, tetapi sebagai bentuk sokongan industri sawit terhadap pemulihan sosial bekas banduan.

Kata kunci: Buruh asing, industri sawit, orang diparol, pemulihan banduan, reintegrasi sosial, sokongan institusi

The Malaysian palm oil industry, particularly the upstream sector faces challenges related to the shortage of local labour and the high dependence on foreign workers. To address this issue, the government introduced the placement of parolees in oil palm plantations through an external prison rehabilitation programme. This study aims to identify the success factors of the rehabilitation programme and to propose future improvements in order to create a more constructive impact on the social rehabilitation of former prisoners. The study employed a qualitative method using a multiple case study approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews involving 17 informants consisting of government officers, parole officers, plantation managers, and representatives from the palm oil industry. The data were analysed using ATLAS.ti 23 to map the main themes. The findings indicate that the rehabilitation programme for parolees in oil palm plantations was successful in three aspects: (i) social protection systems, (ii) social support, and (iii) self-control. However, weaknesses in institutional support still exist, particularly the absence of clear policies and the uneven readiness of employers. The implications of this study suggest that the parole programme in oil palm plantations should be expanded inclusively as a two-pronged strategy: addressing labour shortages while supporting the reintegration process of former prisoners. This study also suggests that the parole programme should not merely be viewed as an alternative labour source, but rather as a form of support from the palm oil industry towards the social rehabilitation of former prisoners.

Keywords: Foreign workers, palm oil industry, parolees, prisoner rehabilitation, social reintegration, institutional support