Reinforcing KL-Jakarta ties
JAKARTA: Malaysia and Indonesia will enhance efforts to counter the negative European campaign against the palm oil industry.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the two major producers of the commodity, Malaysia and Indonesia, should work together to counter against the campaign, which was putting the industry in a bad light.
“Palm oil exports are being threatened by Europe and we need to stand together to counter their narrative that many forests are cut down and will have a big impact on the weather and environment,” he said in a joint press conference with Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Bogor Presidential Palace here yesterday.
Dr Mahathir was earlier given a state welcome at the palace in conjunction with his two-day official visit to Indonesia.
He said Europe’s opposition towards the palm oil industry was more of an economic problem among themselves rather than an environmental issue.
He said the real picture in Europe was that there were not many areas which were covered with forest because they had been logged.
“When we need a larger area to plant palm oil, they oppose it,” said Dr Mahathir.
In the meantime, Joko has asked the Malaysian government to consider Indonesia’s request to provide schools for its migrant workers’ children in the peninsula, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak.
Joko also touched on the need for closer cooperation on issues with regard to borders, workforce and joint car production.