KUCHING, April 22: The European Parliament’s decision to adopt the European Union (EU)’s Deforestation-Free Products Regulation on April 19 is another attempt to discriminate against palm oil.
In a statement today, Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association chairman Kiu Kwong Seng said the regulation is meant to restrict or, to a certain extent, prohibit the import of palm oil to the EU if the supply chain does not meet their ‘open-ended’ criteria.
“In retrospect, the Western developed countries have organised countless smearing campaigns against palm oil,” he said.
According to Kiu, although all the scientific evidence showing palm oil is healthy, palm oil continues to be demonised by much misinformation.
He said the past ten years had witnessed anti-palm oil sentiments focused on the concern over deforestation and wildlife killing.
He also said numerous efforts are in place for conservation and green initiatives where the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities has set up the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Fund, focusing on activities such as forest tree replanting, minimising human-animal conflict, and biodiversity conservation.
“Currently, Malaysia still has 56 per cent of forested areas across the country, while other parts of the world face forest degradation due to development.
“The Malaysian palm oil industry is one of the most highly regulated, with legislation and regulations in place to ensure that it adheres to domestic and international standards,” he added.
On the same note, Kiu said that the association also fully supports Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities.
He said they strongly believed the forthcoming decision made by the Minister serves the best interest of the Malaysian palm oil industry.
“I urge all the Malaysian palm oil producers to rally behind the minister,” said Kiu. — DayakDaily
