This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on January 18, 2019

PUTRAJAYA: The primary industries ministry will utilise all available channels to urge the World Health Organization (WHO) to retract or rectify its report that drew a parallel between lobbying tactics used by the palm oil industry and those in the alcohol and tobacco sectors.

WHO has in a recent study claimed certain tactics were used to influence public and political discussion on health and environmental effects of palm oil products similar to those pursued by the tobacco and alcohol industries.

Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said the ministry is “very disturbed” by WHO’s claims in the study.

“The claims are untrue and do not take into account other established studies on palm oil. I do feel that WHO, as an international body, should have shown more professionalism and inclusivity by taking into account other studies done, which have proven palm oil as a healthy oil for consumption.

“We will utilise all available channels to urge WHO to either retract or rectify the report,” Shamsul Iskandar told reporters on the sidelines of the Palm Oil Economic Outlook and Review Seminar yesterday.

On Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s letter to France to explain Malaysia’s position on France’s decision to declassify palm oil as biodiesel feedstock, Shamsul Iskandar said he believes Malaysia’s message that the world’s second-largest palm oil producer will firmly fight against the biased perception surrounding the commodity is now clearly conveyed.

“Having said that, we are not contesting it without parameters. We have provided explanations to consumers and are planning trade missions to markets with huge potential.

“We will be meeting with industry players, besides ministers, in Pakistan to lock [in] their purchase of our palm products,” he said.