By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 3: The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has condemned calls to boycott palm oil-based products over concerns about transboundary haze, warning that such action could affect more than 242,000 smallholder families nationwide.
MPOB director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Mohd said boycotting palm oil products was neither an appropriate nor effective way to address air pollution, stressing that public appeals on environmental issues must be based on facts, evidence and a comprehensive understanding of their actual causes.
He was responding to a statement by local celebrity Sharifah Sakinah, who urged the public on social media to stop buying and using palm oil-based products that contribute to forest destruction.
“We do not dispute the right of any individual to voice their concerns about the environment.
“However, when boycott calls are made without distinguishing between those responsible for pollution and the entire industry, the impact can go beyond the actual targets and ultimately burden parties who are not responsible for the problem,” he said in a statement today.
Badrul said more than 242,000 independent oil palm smallholder families nationwide cultivate over 866,000 hectares of plantations, making them among the groups most vulnerable to fluctuations in prices, production costs and market demand.
He said any campaign that affects demand for palm oil products could have repercussions throughout the industry’s value chain, including smallholders’ incomes, fresh fruit bunch collection and processing activities, mill operations and related employment opportunities.
According to Badrul, Malaysia’s exports of palm oil and palm oil-based products reached RM112 billion in 2025, an increase of 2.9 per cent from RM109 billion in 2024.
“Behind the export figures and industry performance are hundreds of thousands of families who depend on palm oil income to support their livelihoods, their children’s education and daily needs.
“They should not have to bear the consequences of boycott calls that do not address the actual causes of environmental issues,” he added.
MPOB explained that transboundary haze is a complex air pollution issue requiring coordinated efforts, including identifying the sources of fires, enforcing the law, regional cooperation and taking action against those responsible.
Badrul urged celebrities, influencers and community leaders to use their influence to share accurate information and encourage actions that genuinely help address environmental issues. — DayakDaily
