European Members of Parliamentarians have urged MPOC and MPOB to continue with sustained marketing and public relations initiatives to counter the strong criticism of European NGOs on the alleged damaging impact of oil palm cultivation on the environment. — Bloomberg photo
KUALA LUMPUR: A European Member of Parliamentarians, Amjad Bashir, urged the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) to continue with sustaining their marketing and public relations initiatives to counter the strong criticism of European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the alleged damaging impact of oil palm cultivation on the environment.
In defending Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm grower, Bashir said sometimes the NGOs and government officials try to bring about legislation just to satisfy themselves.
“There will be other things they will point out, and they’re not looking at whether it is good, practical or otherwise…you have to meet their charges.
“State repeatedly that they’re wrong…that you do look after the environment, and do care about the forest (environment),” he added.
Representing the Yorkshire and Humber region of the UK, Bashir stated that the Malaysian government had proven that oil palm was environmentally sustainable, and criticised the negative comments of NGOs on the industry.
“You need to carry on undertaking sustained marketing and public relations exercises. We are here as your friends. We will go back and speak on your behalf,” he said at the end of a week-long visit to Malaysia at the invitation of the MPOB.
Part of the delegation included Nirj Deva and Richard Ashworth, representing South East England and Roger Helmer, East in Midlands England.
Helmer also echoed Bashir’s opinion on the need for intense marketing strategies to promote the image of palm oil and improve its branding, as the awareness level of the product among European consumers is low.
“This low awareness level is capped by negative media coverage and complaints from NGOs. And that’s why it leads to a very negative perception of palm oil,” he told Bernama.
The MPOC and MPOB are believed to be on the verge of starting another campaign to highlight the importance of palm oil. Celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver will also be using palm oil on their show to inform audiences of its goodness.
The visit by the European Members of Parliamentarians to Malaysia is to learn and better understand oil palm as a crop, and its cultivation, social elements and environmental aspect.
They had a first-hand look at the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certified United Plantations Bhd in Teluk Intan and visited Undan Oil Palm Estate, the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority and Semenggoh Wild Life Rehabilitation Centre, all under Felcra Sarawak.
Endorsing the golden crop as the ‘Jewel In the Crown’, they said it had done wonders in terms of bringing in export revenue, as the biggest contributor to the agriculture industry.
They lauded the Malaysian government for alleviating poverty and ensuring food security for smallholders who are leading a decent life through oil palm cultivation.
Smallholders whose livelihood have been transformed by planting oil palm, undertake almost 40 per cent of it.
The oil palm industry has contributed immensely to the nation’s economic growth and in increasing rural incomes.
Ashworth said: “The crop is incredibly productive and has quite a formidable production capacity, making Malaysia well suited to meet the world’s growing demand for oils and fats.
“When I go back home, I want to firstly tell people, how well your government has done.” Exports of palm oil products from Malaysia accounted for 25 per cent of the global export trade in oils and fats and 42 per cent of the global palm oil trade.
The country’s palm oil products are currently exported to more than 150 countries worldwide, including China, the European Union, Pakistan, the United States and India.
Meanwhile, MPOC Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Yusof Basiron in his blog said, it was frustrating for the Malaysian Palm Oil community to see European companies denigrating such an amazing food crop without merit.
“Palm oil is the most efficient vegetable oilseed crop in the world in producing up to 10 times more oil than other leading oilseed crops,” he added. — Bernama