Malaysia will continue to meet China’s demand for oils

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Malaysia will continue to offer high standard edible oil which will cater to the Chinese needs. — Reuters photo

Malaysia will continue to offer high standard edible oil which will cater to the Chinese needs. — Reuters photo

TIANJIN: Malaysia, a major palm oil supplier to China, will continue to offer high standard edible oil which will cater to the Chinese needs, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.

He said Malaysia had invested in both financial and human capital to better understand the effects of palm oil on human health.

This was proven by the latest findings from the ‘Red Palm Oil Programme’ mounted by the Palm Oil Research and Technical Service Institute of MPOB (POTSIM) in Gansu, China, whereby 2,000 school children were given biscuits made from red palm shortening to fight Vitamin A deficiency.

“The results, from consuming palm-oil based biscuits, showed that the deficiency fell from 21.6 per cent to 6.0 per cent.

“This clearly indicated that palm oil plays a bigger role in China’s oils and fats market and we are confident that the usage of palm oil in China will continue to increase,” he said.

Mah was speaking to reporters after launching the Fifth Palm Oil Health and Nutrition Forum and Seminar on Managing Infection Control – Selecting the Right Gloves.

The forum is a signature event in China which was initiated by Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) former director-general Datuk Dr Choo Yuen May.

Mah added that Vitamin A deficiency was a significant public health issue in developing countries and was a major cause of blindness as well as overall mortality. Red palm oil has been studied as a supplement and as part of food fortification to boost vitamin A levels, he said.

It it effective and served to help fortify the food supply in nations where widespread deficiency existed especially in China, where the masses were still unaware of the benefits of palm oil.

“That is the main reason why the ministry, together with the help of MPOB and Malaysian Palm Oil Council, held such forums and seminars to create awareness for the edible oil.

“We will also work closely with experts in China especially with the President of the Tianjin Nutrition Society Professor Dr Qi Yumei to help us to conduct tests and, hopefully, impart knowledge to the China government,” added Mah.

Over the past 30 years, Malaysia has initiated and partnered with leading biomedical and nutritional research institutions around the globe, including China, to carry out clinical studies related to palm oil, he said.

“Today there is a wealth of scientific evidence that supports the fact that palm oil is a wholesome and nutritious edible oil,” he added.

Mah said Malaysia would continue to provide support and improve the usage and application of palm oil in China through the work by POTSIM in Shanghai.

Malaysia has 5.64 million hectares of oil palm plantation and exported 25.3 million tonnes of palm oil and palm oil products in 2015, generating US$15.3 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

Through the income, Mah said Malaysia was able to import goods from China and help maintain a healthy bilateral trade between the two countries. — Bernama