Monday October 5, 2009
The stunning scenery and tranquillity of the Boh tea estate of Cameron Highlands make it an idyllic workplace.
Surrounded by lush greenery, cool weather and fresh, clean air, the employees of Boh Plantations' tea gardens in Cameron Highlands have a working environment that would be the envy of any city-dweller.
Besides the beautiful surroundings, however, what strikes one the most is how content they seem to be, both with Boh as an employer, and with their simple, fuss-free lifestyle.
A recent visit to Boh's Sungei Palas tea estate, where the various employees shared their experiences, proved to be an eye-opening experience.
Vijaya Ramasamy is a retail supervisor at the Boh Tea Centre at the Sungei Palas estate.
For Vijaya Ramasamy, 36, holding the position of retail supervisor at the Sungei Palas Tea Centre is a major achievement.
Having left school after Form 3, she did not have a clear idea of where she was heading. Joining Boh in 1992, however, proved to be a turning point.
Vijaya started out as a cashier at the tea centre. Hard work and dedication helped her to arrive at her current position.
She attributes part of this to Boh's management, whom she describes as "very friendly and encouraging".
"I am very proud to work for Boh. We have free housing, free water, and a good salary; the weather and environment are very nice, too," says the mother of two.
"Even if I were offered a job elsewhere, I'd stay here because we all work together as a group."
Kamaruddin Nayan, 54, appreciates the care extended to its employees by Boh.
"There are no problems with the management. They really care for us. As long as you do your job well, you have nothing to worry about," says the mandor, who has been working on the estate for 38 years.
Tea tasting: Boh Plantations' Sungei Palas estate's factory conductor Sayed Jamal Abu Seman demonstrating how he tastes the different tea samples
He adds that it makes him happy to see Boh's upper management, chairman Datuk Tristan Russell and CEO Caroline Russell, visiting the tea gardens and talking to the workers.
It's the camaraderie between workers that keeps tea estate mandor K. Subramaniam, 62, going.
"No matter what race or religion we are, we're all like brothers here. Every festival or wedding, we all celebrate together," he says, adding that everyone in the company, from the lowest position to the top management, are "very nice people".
"I'm very happy that the boss has allowed me to work for as long as I can. I'll be upset if I were to stop working because I don't want to leave this place!" he says.
Boh Plantations' Sungei Palas estate manager K. Achutan showing how tea leaves are placed in withering troughs after being plucked.
His wife, V. Kaliamma, 57, who has been staying at the Sungei Palas estate since her marriage 38 years ago, says she loves the peaceful atmosphere.
Appointed to be the first female mandor on the estate, she is in charge of pesticide spraying, and is very proud of being entrusted with the responsibility.
"I'm very happy that our manager chose me for this position based on my experience, and not my gender. It is a challenging job, but I like doing it. It keeps me healthy!"
For tea centre manager Hashim Mohd Hassan, 42, making the decision to move from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands to take up his job was easy.
"When I came up here for the job interview, I fell in love with the place because it reminds me of the village I grew up in," says the Alor Setar native.
Living in Tanah Rata with his wife, Hashim loves the laid-back, relaxed lifestyle and the healthy environment.
"In KL, most of our time is spent driving, and we're so tired from driving through traffic jams that we have no energy for work!" Hashim says.
"Here, there is ample time to concentrate on your job, and because it's a small community, people cooperate better. When we have free time, my wife and I visit friends, or drop by the vegetable farms and flower gardens. I don't miss the city life at all." – By Sharmilla Ganesan -- The Star Lifestyle
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