‘RETALIATE IF EU BANS PALM OIL’
Malaysia should impose similar laws on European exports, says Felda
FELDA and its oil palm settlers have voiced support for Malaysia’s proposal to impose similar laws on European exports if the European Union Parliament passes the Delegated Act next month.
Malaysia Felda Youth Council (MBFM) president Mohammad Fadzli Hasan said: “We support Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s suggestion to retalitate if the EU Parliament passes the Delegated Act to phase out and ban palm oil biodiesel.”
In a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron in January, Dr Mahathir had said Malaysia would consider laws to restrict the import of French products.
He urged Macron to reject the proposed ban, adding that the trade relationship between Malaysia and France depended on mutual respect for each other’s commodities.
“Malaysia will consider taking action, including, but not limited to, suspension of EU-Malaysia free trade talks and the imposition of similar legislation on French exports,” Dr Mahathir had reportedly stated in the letter.
Fadzli said this was not the first time that the Felda community had protested against the EU’s plan to ban palm oil.
We Are Children of Felda president Fakhrul Razi Abdul Wahab likened the EU’s smear campaign to neo-colonisation using half-truths to deny palm oil exporters a level playing field.
He slammed the EU for classifying palm oil as having high indirect land-use change (ILUC) risks and excluding it from the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive II mandate.
“The EU’s online propaganda has caused palm oil prices to drop.”
In January, Felda settlers handed a protest memorandum to the EU embassy here.
Fadzli said the EU had singled out palm oil despite planters’ constant improvement in their agricultural practices.
A total of 228,000ha or 42 per cent of Felda’s land have been certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil scheme.
“If the EU goes ahead with the Delegated Act and Renewable Energy Directive II to ban palm oil, Malaysia’s Parliament can also pass similar laws on EU’s exports.”
Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) director-general Datuk Dr Othman Omar said: “Malaysia may be left with no choice but to fight for our younger generation’s future.
“We may be forced to use political channels and economic sanctions against the EU.”