PALMOILMAGAZINE, JAKARTA – Pursuing a career in the male-dominated palm oil plantation industry is no easy feat for women, but Siti Zuwairiah proved that a woman can not only thrive as a planter but also excel.
“When I lead my team, I don’t consider gender—what matters is commitment to the work and personal growth. That’s what being a planter is about, and I’m proud to be one,” said Siti Zuwairiah Abdullah, a Malaysian planter.
Siti now manages a 1,800-hectare palm oil plantation at Sime Darby Berhad (Estate Ladang Tampin Tinggi). Her career journey began in 2005 when she sought higher education. Initially, Siti had no plans to become a planter; she dreamed of becoming a lawyer, like many aspiring professionals in Malaysia who aim to be teachers, doctors, or lawyers. Unfortunately, she did not meet the academic requirements, and her dreams of becoming a lawyer were dashed. “I was devastated,” she recalled.
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However, life took an unexpected turn. Siti eventually studied agriculture at the University of Putra Malaysia (UPM), where she received a scholarship from Guthrie, Malaysia’s largest palm oil company, now known as Sime Darby Plantation.
“After having consideration, I chose agriculture in the University of Putra Malaysia (UPM),” she said.
Of 17 students that got scholarship program, there were only four females. Siti Zuwairiah that got Golden Hope Academy award, was one of them. When having the program, she got theories and practices in palm oil plantations of the company in person.
Her father did not agree with what Siti chose to work in plantation sector. Her father himself worked as harvester in Felda – a palm oil plantation company. Her mother was fertilizer applicator in the same company.
“My father worried because working in plantation sectors was dominated by men,” she said. Her mother also suggested Siti to get better jobs than hers.
Her 2005 – job experiences started by having the first planter recruit by Golden Hope Berhad. In 2007, Golden Hope Berhad, Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad, and Sime Darby Berhad were joint. Since 2008, Siti has started her career as female planters. In 2019 she was officially inaugurated as the first plantation manager by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad. (P2)
