SINGAPORE (MAY 2 2019):- ASEAN countries should stand in solidarity with the palm oil producer members whose commodity is being attacked by those with agenda to protect their own political and economic interests.
Speaking on the biased campaigns against palm oil, Minister of Primary Industries YB Teresa Kok told the 6th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources that ASEAN countries must support each other especially as the defense for palm oil has been made with facts and transparency against the anti-palm oil campaigns that have been unfair, misleading and based on misinformation.
“If the EU countries can stand united on assumptions of unsustainable production and consumption of palm oil and other forest-based products, we as ASEAN should stand tall to fight against those unfair and discriminatory judgments made by them,” she said.
She said this in a keynote address on “Connecting Markets, Forging Consensus: Partnerships for Sustainable Palm Oil” at the dialogue organised by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs themed, “ASEAN’s Pathway to Sustainability: Targets for 2020 and Beyond”.
YB Teresa added that close partnership among ASEAN members is thus extremely important to assert the body as an influential economic caucus and as one of the largest exporting economies in the world.
Furthermore, she pointed out that debates over palm oil are often based on lack of knowledge and deep understanding on the topic, with “a twisted political icing”.
“So I call upon the world business community, why don’t we compete on a fair ground?” she said, adding that Malaysia would continue its fight to promote the positive image of palm oil, including its health benefits and sustainable production.
YB Teresa earlier said it was unfortunate that negative sentiments against palm oil have taken root in some ASEAN countries.
She also shared Malaysia’s sustainability story for the agricommodity sector and the major policy shifts undertaken by the Pakatan Harapan Government for sustainable cultivation of oil palm.
Among the distinguished speakers at the dialogue was The Honourable Masagos Zulkifli, Singapore Environment and Water Resources Minister.
During her Singapore visit, YB Teresa also had a breakfast meeting with The Honourable Chan Chun Sing, Singapore Trade and Industry Minister. She also visited Neste Singapore in Tuas.
With Singapore Environment and Water Resources Minister H.E. Masagos Zulkifli
