Malaysia hopes to alter palm oil bias

Plantation and Commodities Ministry (KPK) plans to request membership to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to provide a fact-based narrative of the palm oil industry.

KPK deputy secretary-general (plantation and commodities) Datuk Razali Mohamad said this would improve communications about the industry’s sustainable practices in Malaysia.

“It is a crucial step so that we can tell the world that Malaysia’s palm oil industry is sustainable, complies with the law and does not cause environmental destruction or displace wildlife.”

He said this after officiating the last leg of Malaysia-wide roadshow series Jelajah Sawit Hijau, by Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), in Kuala Lumpur.

The series, themed “Conservation is the Key to Sustainable Palm Oil”, combines science and sustainability with entertainment to raise awareness among Malaysians from all walks of life.

Razali said the welfare of industry players was also taken care of through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), which supervises more than 200,000 independent smallholders and those under Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).

“The welfare of smallholders is taken care of and training is provided so that planting practices comply with standards.”

Razali added that over RM10mil was spent annually on conservation programmes such as replanting and wildlife protection by smallholders.

The event also saw the unveiling of a 94-page Panduan Pengecaman Tapak Hidupan Liar di Lapangan (Field guide to the identification of wildlife tracks).

Razali said the publication aimed to inform local estate managers and smallholders about wildlife species within the oil palm ecosystem.

“Once they can identify the animals, whether dangerous or friendly, they will be better prepared to face any situation.”

The roadshow was organised in collaboration with Suria FM and Majoriti, the Malay language digital news portal of Star Media Group.

There were several booths by MPOGCF’s strategic partners such as Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Earthworm Foundation, Felda, Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Nature Sustainable Ecosystem Society, Johor Plantations Group and Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Present at the event were MPOGCF general manager Hairulazim Mahmud and board of trustees member Andy Lee Yiew Meng; Perhilitan wildlife conservation division senior assistant director Chek Salan @ Mohd Saiful Mohd Zin; MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir; and Suria FM manager Borhanuddin Abdullah.

Borhanuddin said Suria FM was thrilled to collaborate with MPOGCF to promote awareness about the protection of endangered wildlife.

Visitor A. Fatin, who works in the field of conservation, said it was good to promote mitigation efforts to new plantation companies as it could help avoid costly environmental damage.

Nur Hanis Akmal, who attended the roadshow with her two children, said the event offered insight into the industry’s sustainability commitments and protection of wildlife.

Hairulazim said the roadshow series aimed to address the misinterpretations and inaccurate views of palm oil production.

“The roadshow kicked off at Aman Central mall in Alor Setar then moved on to Kuala Terengganu’s Mayang Mall, Johor Baru’s Paradigm Mall and now Melawati Mall,” he said.

Activities included a palm fruit weight-guessing contest, podcast segment with MPOGCF, meet-and-greet session with Suria FM radio announcers and performances by local artists such as Alyah, Zarul Umbrella and Ameng Spring.

Tags: International Union for Conservation of Nature, wildlife, Production, Malaysia, palm oil, Sustainability, smallholders