M’sia, Indonesia to create best strategic framework to protect palm oil industry

PUTRAJAYA – Malaysia and Indonesia will discuss formulating the best strategy to protect the palm oil industry of both countries, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali.

He said this is in line with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s call for the framework of the Palm Oil Producing Countries Council (CPOPC) to be strengthened to protect the common interests of member countries, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia.

“I will discuss with my Indonesian counterpart, Economic Affairs Coordinating Minister Airlangga Hartarto, to formulate the best strategy to protect the palm oil industry of both countries in the near future,” he said in a statement here today.

CPOPC was established jointly by Malaysia and Indonesia on November 21, 2015, to champion issues related to the palm oil industry.

Khairuddin said Malaysia will continue to work with Indonesia to oppose discrimination on the industry, either in a two-way or multiparty relationship.

He said Indonesia and Malaysia, which are the largest and second-largest producer countries in the world, are constantly seeking to reach an agreement in developing and maintaining the palm oil industry in both countries.

Khairuddin said the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry welcomed the call by the prime minister, which was uttered during a meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Jakarta yesterday, to further strengthen Malaysia’s cooperation with Indonesia to oppose discrimination on palm oil by European Union (EU) countries and several other countries.

He said the two leaders had expressed concern over the unfounded anti-palm-oil campaign, which does not reflect the sustainability of the palm oil industry and its preservation of the environment. The campaign also contradicts the principles of free-trade practices as outlined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Following that, Muhyiddin said Malaysia has filed legal action against the EU with the WTO on January 15, in line with the statement issued on the same day as soon as the filing was done, in addition to a similar action taken by Indonesia against the EU in December 2019. – Bernama, February 6, 2021