KUCHING: The country’s palm oil industry is in safe hands under Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah yesterday described her as being “very passionate, spirited about the industry and will breathe new life” to it.
He said this at a Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) promotion talk for planters and smallholders here which was also attended by Kok.
But if there is one message, he had for her — it was for her to take “affirmative steps” to ensure the commodity price would go up soon.
“This, of course, will bring immense happiness to the families of the smallholders.
“We do not kill the Orang Utan here or completely deprive them of their natural habitat as alleged by the anti-palm oil campaign in the west.
“Anti-palm oil lobbyists must know we need to put food on the tables for our families by growing oil palm,” Uggah said.
On the MSPO, Uggah said it was a home-grown certification based on “our own standard and capability and it did not add any extra cost to the planters or smallholders”.
“We have complied with sustainability quality; we have complied with the Paris Agreement on climate change.
“In addition, we observed our Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir’s commitment on the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.
“There is no reason why our standard is not acceptable,” he said.
Sarawak, he added, had dedicated 60 per cent of its area under forest cover.
“I would like to stress here we have been, are and will continue to be very supportive of the Federal government’s policy on sustainability.”
Meanwhile, on the certification process among smallholders (especially those with farms of 100 hectares or less), he hoped the Federal government would help them with 100 per cent subsidy.
They are the ones who needed the aid the most, Uggah said.
He also advised them, especially the new farmers, to diversify their crops.
“Do not just rely on oil palm alone. Plant crops like banana or pineapple or do livestock rearing alongside as well.
“These will give you alternative income when the price of palm oil drops,” he said.
