KUCHING: The Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (SOPPOA) yesterday applaud the stance of the state and federal governments in reminding oil palm planters here not to hastily sign with companies that may jeopardise the industry.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu made the remarks at the recently concluded “Reach & Remind Friends” seminar organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council here Monday.
At the same event, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah also commented that the oil palm industry is a National Agenda for Malaysia as it is one of the main pillars of economic strength for the country.
“SOPPOA is most grateful for the support from the state and federal governments on the matter which can have disastrous effects on the growth and survival of the oil palm industry in the country, especially in Sarawak,” said the spokesperson.
As mentioned by Jabu, more than 800,000 rural native communities are dependent on oil palm industry to lift them out of poverty which calls for developing peat, cleared forest and native rights lands in the state.
He also said that by boycotting fresh fruit bunches from peat areas in Sarawak is an inhumane act which goes against any policy for the wellbeing of people to elevate themselves from poverty, especially rural native communities.
Uggah assured the industry in Sarawak that the government will not abandon them as it is the government’s agenda to develop the oil palm industry and will lend support by working closely with the industry in Sarawak to ensure that any threats will not destroy the industry here.
He also added that the government is always sourcing for new markets for Malaysian palm oil and for relevant authorities to check on whether the policy imposed by industry players contravenes any fair trade act.
He also made the call to further expedite downstream activities for the industry in Sarawak.
In Sarawak, it is the state government aim to continue developing the oil palm industry here and so any policy that seeks to curtail its growth through suppressive means will severely affect all sectors of the industry, from smallholders to plantations and also related industries like finance, transportation, services and building.
SOPPOA also calls for all oil palm growers in the state to stand united against any threat posed by industry players against the policy of the state and federal governments in further developing the oil palm industry in Malaysia.