InfoSAWIT, SANDAKAN – Malaysia would be committed to stop palm oil new planting in forest areas. This would support its commitment of sustainability and maintain forest canopy that laid on about 54%. Minister of Plantation and Commodity Malaysia, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said that in the 2024 Orangutan World Day, Sunday 18 August.
Datuk Johari emphasized fresh fruit bunch that was harvested from the regions where deforestation happened, would be banned to be processed in the palm oil mills. “The mills that purchased and processed FFB from deforestation areas would be banned to be exports or selling the derivative products. I believe we have many palm oil plantations,” he said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from The Star, Tuesday (20/8/2024).
This would be about to confirm the country to maintain forest canopy that laid on about 54% and would be significantly critical to protect natural conservation, including the orangutan habitat.
The policy was socialized to many stakeholders through many forums. The goal would be about to reinforce the commitment of Malaysia on sustainability. He also emphasized every palm oil exports from the country should qualify the standards of sustainability as the serious evidence of Malaysia to maintain the environment.
Sabah where it is the main palm oil state in Malaysia, now has 1,5 million hectares palm oil plantations. But palm oil industries still face critics and negative propaganda from western countries about sustainability. In response to this, Datuk Johari said that the Government of Malaysia is committed to fight the wrong claims.
“We make Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil as the mandatory for every producer, such as, big companies and smallholders,” he said. The certification would be very important because more than 80% palm oil production from Malaysia was exported to many countries. By having certification, the buyers should believe about sustainability and quality of palm oil products from Malaysia.
Palm oil significantly plays its roles in the economic sector in Malaysia. It contributed 3% of the gross domestic product of the country, the export income could be reaching more than RM 100 billion, and creating about more than one million employments. The country hoped to reinforce its position as the sustainable and responsible palm oil producer in the globe. (T2)
