KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 23): Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today dismissed as baseless the claims linking palm oil to deforestation, saying they are unfair and unjustified.

“Malaysia has been accused of putting the need for development before the needs of our forests and the issue of deforestation for oil palm plantations has always been championed by our detractors,” he said.

He said these claims bring a negative impact to Malaysia which depends highly on the palm oil industry to raise the socio-economic well-being of the people, in order to help Malaysia achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“It has also significant detrimental effects on oil palm growers who include 650,000 smallholders as well as another 1.5 million people employed throughout the palm oil supply chain.

“The truth is, the palm oil industry in Malaysia has been developed sustainably and responsibly ... the government, in adhering to the SDGs, has put in measures to ensure this industry does not cause environmental degradation as well as to avoid unsustainable practices such as the destruction of forests and wildlife habitats,” he said in his speech when opening the Hutan Kita (Our Forests) exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur Tower here.

The Hutan Kita - Journey through our Rainforest exhibition is being held at the Tower Terrace of the Kuala Lumpur Tower from Aug 24 to Sept 22. It is organised by the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources.

Dr Mahathir said the Malaysian palm oil industry is now focusing on improving productivity and yields rather than expanding land, to avoid deforestation and direct or indirect land-use change.

He said that apart from that, restrictions on the planting of oil palm on peatland as well as permanent reserved forests have also been imposed.

“In line with the above, the government has set the maximum arable land for oil palm cultivation at 6.55 million hectares by 2023. It is encouraging that Sarawak has imposed a moratorium on state land for oil palm plantation which does not allow new planting of oil palm on state land, including on peatland.

“Malaysia stands proud to share some of our sustainable practices with the world. Malaysia introduced the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Scheme in 2013 and (it) will be made mandatory commencing Jan 1, 2020,” he said.