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KUCHING, July 27: Deputy Prime Minister Dato Seri Fadillah Yusof states that the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), is stepping up production of hybrid palm breeds that can produce more oil while using less land.
Fadillah, who is also KPK Minister, noted that this is in line with Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s desire to maximise the use of existing plantation land.
“MPOB, as a research and development (R&D) institution, will also continue to ensure that the palm products produced are always of high quality and sustainable, taking into account the current challenges, particularly European rejection of alleged various issues such as deforestation and food safety,” he said in a press statement today.
He went on to say that the announcement by Anwar of the ‘Madani Economy: Empowering the People’ as Malaysia’s new economic framework is a determination that is expected to boost the economy and improve the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“With the world facing a food crisis, it is critical for the country to maintain strategies that do not rely solely on the production of upstream commodities but also diversify downstream products with high added value,” he said.
Fadillah continued stating that it is well-known that the agricommodity sector is vital to the national economy, in addition to creating job opportunities for the local community and increasing the country’s GDP, and that the Ministry will continue to empower the industry through a variety of initiatives.
“The conservation and reforestation efforts are evidence that Malaysia places a high value on forest resource conservation in order to maintain environmental sustainability.
“In fact, KPK, through its agencies, has mobilised the ‘Malaysian Greening Programme’, a national agenda to address the challenges of climate change and improve community quality of life.”
He also stated that his ministry appreciates Sarawak’s efforts to pioneer vehicles that use hydrogen energy and CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage).
“Therefore, the Ministry also supports the government’s initiative in the implementation of environmental sustainability restoration through the use of green technology, such as palm biodiesel.
“It is hoped that the wishes and initiatives carried out will raise the country’s status and dignity by restructuring the economy to position Malaysia as the economic leader in the Southeast Asian region and the world, resulting in an abundance of results for the people and the country,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted. — DayakDaily
