Mahathir Invites Palm Oil Producers to Tackle ‘Black Campaign’
The “black campaign” against palm oil plantations for causing deforestation, using vast tracts of land, threatening biodiversity and heightening the risk of social conflicts can be overcome with scientific evidence.
By
ICHWAN SUSANTO, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
·3 minutes read
KUALA LUMPUR, KOMPAS – The “black campaign” against palm oil plantations for causing deforestation, using vast tracts of land, threatening biodiversity and heightening the risk of social conflicts can be overcome with scientific evidence and research.
At the same time, this requires a serious effort in proving that they produce palm oil through a sustainable process.
In his opening speech at the International Palm Oil Congress and Exhibition (PIPOC 2019) on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he was determined to ensure that every drop of palm oil his country produced was sustainable.
The forest cover in Malaysia is currently 55 percent, or 33 million hectares.
This could be achieved if every palm oil industry implemented sustainability as a pillar of its business activities, namely community, the Earth and profits. This, he said, was in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mahathir also touted his success at fulfilling Malaysia\'s commitment made during the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mahathir said at the time that he would increase forest cover in Malaysia to 50 percent.
"The forest cover in Malaysia is currently 55 percent, or 33 million hectares," he said to large applause from the audience.
He was therefore calling on Malaysia and other palm oil-producing countries to not stay quiet about the “black campaign”, or palm oil discrimination. “If evidence proves the existence of discriminatory trade practices that violate international law, Malaysia and the [members] of the Council of Palm Oil Producing Countries (CPOPC) must seek intervention from the World Trade Organization (WTO)," he said.
Gathering evidence
Mahathir said that Malaysia and other palm oil-producing countries should continue to gather evidence and facts through scientific studies to fight back against the black campaign and discrimination. He also encouraged that the information be disseminated to the public and the international community.
The black campaign, which was based on misinformation, could have serious consequences, said Mahathir, presenting slides that showed the use of labels like "Palm Oil Free" or "Say No to Palm Oil" on jam packaging.
The black campaign alleges that palm oil caused the destruction of tropical forests and threatened the natural habitat of orangutans and other animals.
Mahathir said that palm oil was the most productive and efficient in terms of land use compared to other vegetable oils, such as rapeseed, sunflower and soybean. Therefore, oil palm plantations used less land.
Starting in January 2020, Malaysia is requiring all Indonesian palm oil producers to obtain the Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil certification.
Indonesia would provide more space and funds for promotional and informational campaigns to improve the image of palm oil.
Malaysian Minister of Primary Industry Teresa Kok said that the Malaysian government would offer credit at 2 percent interest per annum to help smallholder farmers who were rejuvenating their oil palm plantations.
Speaking at the Second-Level Meeting of the Ministers of Palm Oil Producing Countries in Kuala Lumpur the day before, Indonesian Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto acknowledged that the rejuvenation of smallholder oil palm plantations remained far from the target (Kompas, 19/11/2019).
Airlangga also said that cooperation between palm oil-producing countries was needed to tackle the black campaign and palm oil discrimination. He said that Indonesia would provide more space and funds for promotional and informational campaigns to improve the image of palm oil.