(MY) palm oil victim

[Guest guest]

Minister: Palm oil victim of smear campaign- Malaysiakini

 

May 16, 06 11:09am

 

Malaysia today hit back at allegations its palm oil industry kills

orangutans by clearing forests, saying it was an attempt by industry

competitors in the developed world to undermine the sector.

 

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik charged

that developed countries which produce oils and fats were engaging in

a smear campaign in the face of stiff competition from palm oil.

 

" They know they cannot compete with palm oil so how do they fight you?

They find some reason and hit you below the belt, " Lim said at the

launch of regional headquarters here for Netherlands-based biofuel

traders BioX Group B.V.

 

" They come up with 'Palm oil kills ... the orangutan', " said the

minister in a fiery speech, during which he repeatedly mimicked

orangutan noises.

 

" So we have to fight that. Don't worry ... we will. When Malaysians

get angry, they fight. And I guarantee you we will win, " said Lim.

 

Palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia has been blamed for destroying vast

swathes of jungle, pushing endangered animals such as the orangutan to

extinction, and creating Southeast Asia's annual haze crisis as

forests are burned off for plantations.

 

But Lim said the campaign over the large red-haired apes, which are

native to Malaysia's eastern states on Borneo island, emerged after

palm oil exports from Malaysia to the European Union more than

tripled.

 

Like Tarzan and Jane

 

He said no forests were cleared for plantations and natural forest

still covered some 64 percent of Malaysia.

 

" What more do you want? Do you want us to be 100 percent covered with

natural forest, so that we don't use cars, so that we swing from tree

to tree like Tarzan and Jane? So that you can come and take photos of

these loin-clothed natives? "

 

Most of Malaysia's palm oil plantations were converted from existing

rubber plantations, with the last plantations opened up 40 years ago,

he said.

 

" We owe no apology to anyone to use our forest for our own use. Just

like the Europeans used up all their forests for their own use, " he

said.

 

Malaysia is the world's largest palm oil producer, accounting for

about half of global output. Itaims to become the world's top producer

of palm oil-based biodiesel amid an aggressive expansion in its palm

oil production as demand soars for the alternative fuel.

 

- AFP

 

--

Send your comments on the above issue to us at

voxpopuli. Your email may be published in

Malaysiakini. Please keep your comments brief, and do let us know if

you wish to remain anonymous.