Malaysian Oil Palm Industry Players Undertaking Replanting Projects

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysian palm oil industry players are making concerted efforts towards replanting oil palm trees together with the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), says Minister of Primary Industries, Teresa Kok Suh Sim. She said the MPOC had allocated US$362,381 (RM1.5 million) to replant one million oil palm trees on 2,500 hectares of land in Lower Kawag, Lahad Datu of east Malaysian state Sabah over the next 10 years. Kok said the first stage of the replanting project includes providing a crucial wildlife reserve and creating a wildlife food corridor, thus giving more space to and protecting endangered species, including the Borneo pygmy elephant and the orangutan from poaching and extinction. “This effort proves to the world that the palm oil industry is concerned about the environment and we will replant more trees,” she added. “We hope that by doing this, we can counter the critics that have been attacking our palm oil industry. “We want them to also look at the good work being done by the Malaysian government,” she added. The minister said the global community should also look at how palm oil industry players have been helping smallholders and the poor, as well as their contribution to wildlife conservation and environmental protection. “Some of the industry players have committed to mobilising their workers for the tree planting efforts and together, we hope this initiative can be completed earlier than the 10-year target,” she added. -- BERNAMA