PUTRAJAYA (Sept 20): The Malaysian Government is considering the oil palm sector's tax policy suggestions, which include double deduction for companies, which promote industry sustainability.

Speaking to reporters today, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said the Government was also evaluating suggestions on crude palm oil (CPO) tax.

Mah said industry players had proposed the introduction of double-tax deduction for companies, which cooperate with the Government to increase sustainability of the oil palm industry.

"Another suggestion is to harmonise the export duty of CPO between Malaysia and Indonesia, through the Council of Palm Producing Country framework," he said after a two-day dialogue between the ministry and Malaysian commodity industries.

Mah said the ministry would consider inputs from the dialogue, as the Government prepared for Budget 2017. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will announce the budget in Parliament this Oct 21.

Today, Mah said he could not provide details on the Government's planned oil palm sector tax policy, as tax structures for the upstream and downstream segments were different.