ALLEGATIONS THAT M`SIA IS DESTROYING FORESTS UNTRUE

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The allegation by some international
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that Malaysia is destroying its natural
forests to plant oil palm is untrue, said the Deputy Minister of Plantation
Industries and Commodities Hamzah Zainudin.

"In reality, we have proven to the world that the natural forest cover in
the country comprises 60 percent of our total land area.

"Therefore, it is untrue when they state that we are destroying the natural
forests to plant oil palm.They are actually afraid that our production of palm
oil is of a better quality compared to the edible food oils that come from other
plants," he said when asked about the speculation by European NGOs that Malaysia
was destryoing its forests and habitation of the Orang Utan for the purpose of
planting oil palm.

Hamzah had earlier launched a publicity programme to enhance the use of
local timber organised by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) here.

He said those making the allegation had the intention to curtail the
development of Malaysia's palm oil industry and not due to a desire to save
wildlife said to be endangered by the opening up of forests.

Asked about the measures being taken by the government to overcome the
allegations, Hamzah said one of the steps was to continue highlighting to the
world, the stability of the palm oil being produced by the country.

"When we talk about upstream activities, we have our own guidelines on how
to plant palm oil or other commodities. We also have boards like the malaysian
Palm Oil Board to seriously look into the matter and not just simply plant oil
palm.

"All this while, we have been informing the world, that we are producing
products from commodities in a sustainable manner," he said.
-- BERNAMA