Sustainable Development Will Be Maintained In Malaysia, Says PM

July 03, 2007
Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pledged Tuesday that the government will ensure that sustainable development will continue to drive the country's plantation sector, protecting the interests of the indigenous people as well as the environment and wildlife.

The government has taken several steps in line with this, including the environmental impact assessment requirement for any land development exceeding 500 hectares, as well as laws on land conservation, environmental quality and national parks.

He pointed out that Malaysia is also signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Tropical Timber Agreement as well as the Charter of Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Forests.

"The strict conditions demonstrate the government's determination and commitment to protect our flora and fauna and preserve our environment," he said when opening the Malaysian International Commodity Conference and Showcase here.

Abdullah assured that Malaysia remains committed to preserving Nature's treasure trove in the country for future generations, and said this is evident in the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme which ensures that Malaysia's timber products are an outcome of sustainable development

Abdullah spoke of how Malaysia has always been unfairly associated with illegal logging practices and insisted that the government's efforts reflect its commitment and uncompromising stand against such logging tactics, especially as these destroy the environment.

"Malaysia has taken proactive steps, taking part in consultations with the European Union under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, which is part of the Forest Law Enforcement and Governance and Trade Action Plan," he added.

Even so, such unfair accusations have affected Malaysia's palm oil and timber trade and he stressed that these matters must be tackled in a smart manner.

The success of Malaysia's plantation and commodities sector has naturally given rise several challenges, especially in the form of attempts to bad mouth the country's palm oil exports in the main markets of Europe and the U.S., with accusations that oil palm plantations are destroying tropical forests and wildlife and also that palm oil is not good for health.

"But thanks to our regulations to preserve the environment, our commodities industry continues to practise sustainable development and is environmentally friendly," he said.

Abdullah also pointed out that the oil palm plantations are run in line with the requirements of universally-accepted Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) which are aimed at agronomic and environmental sustainability.

Besides, both the government and the private sector jointly took part in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil which set the principles and criteria for palm oil production in a sustainable manner.

The Prime Minister noted that the plantation and commodities sector continues to play an important role in the national economy, last year contributing about five percent to the Gross Domestic Product and making up 13 percent of total exports.

On biodiesel, he told all involved that in their eagerness to venture into it, they should not neglect the other products which are also derived from palm oil, such as consumer products, foodstuff and pharmaceuticals.

Biodiesel, he stressed, should be derived from higher production of palm oil, and he wants the oil palm industry to ensure that production continues to increase so that the downstream activities continue to flourish and new products are created as research and expertise strengthen.

"If you want to increase biodiesel activity, then increase the productivity ... so open more areas (for cultivation). I think it is important to balance (between production of biodiesel and other palm oil related products)," he said.

On manpower in the plantation sector, Abdullah referred to the industry's dependence on foreign labour, who make up almost 20 per cent of the estimated 1.9 million foreign workers in the country.

"I want to see a reduction in this dependence on low-cost labour," he told the industry. He wants to see greater efforts to modernise the daily operations of plantations, replacing man with machine, as is being done in developed countries.

Abdullah referred to one of the main challenges facing the agricultural sector - the shortage of skilled labour, especially among the younger generations.

According to the 2005 agriculture census, 44 percent of those in the sector are aged 55 years or more, and only 25 percent were between 15 and 40 years old.

"We must generate more professionals in the commodities sector, not just in plantation management but also as smallholders of calibre," he stressed.

Copyright ) 2007 BERNAMA. All rights reserved