KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) have urged those with evidence of rape and abuses happening on oil palm plantations to lodge reports with the authorities.
An Associated Press (AP) report on November 18, titled “Rape, abuses in palm oil fields linked to top cosmetics brands”, called attention to the alleged abuse of women employed in the palm oil industry.
MPOC chief executive Datuk Kalyana Sundram, in a statement, said the journalists behind the report should cooperate with Malaysian authorities or the relevant civil groups to ensure investigations can be conducted thoroughly.
“If the motive of the authors of the AP report is to give justice to the alleged victims, they should step forward. Withholding or silencing such evidence is not helping the victims nor the industry, and will above all hinder justice.”
He stressed that the council views the allegations seriously.
“Malaysia will not condone such criminal acts nor tolerate any misuse or abuse of any employees, especially women.”
Failure to step forward will lead to inaction, he added, as the authorities have said they have not received any report on such abuses, which means legal action cannot be instituted.
MPOA chief executive Datuk Nageeb Wahab, in a statement, said reporting on wrongdoings is an important first step, so long as the claims are substantiated.
“The way to achieve this would be to work together, honestly, openly and with sincerity.”
He said the AP report exaggerates the situation on Malaysian oil palm estates. – Bernama, November 23, 2020
