The untold truths about palm oil
KUCHING: Brands proclaiming no palm oil used in their products are not trying to save rainforests as claimed, but are protecting other oil seeds production against palm oil.
According to a press statement issued by The Sarawak Oil Palm Plantation Owners Association (Soppoa), these European (EU) food manufacturers like Island Bakery, Walkers and M&S labelled their products as ‘No palm oil used’ in a bid to misguide consumers that palm oil is not good, which is a blatant discrimination and more importantly, to protect European rapeseed productions from competitions (www. ethicalconsumer.org).
This was clearly noted in a publication by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in June 2018, stating ‘…oil palm is the world’s most efficient oil-producing plant as it requires much less land than comparable plants (1 ton of rapeseed needs 1.25 ha, 1 ton of sunflower oil needs 1.43 ha and soybean needs 2 ha)’. IUCN further warns that if countries around the world want to ban use of palm oil, “…we will need more land in other areas to fulfil the increasing demands for oil in the future”.
“It has also been scientifically confirmed that cattle farming is the single biggest destruction of forest worldwide followed by rapeseed and soya farming but these are not told to the public freely as it will jeopardize the cattle, rapeseed and soya farmers’ livelihoods. Even today, large numbers of Amazon forests are disappearing due to cattle and soya bean farming but Europeans continue to close one eye to the destruction as it does not directly compete with their rapeseed productions.
“Instead, the Europeans are pointing fingers at palm oil producing countries as destroying forests and so make palm oil look bad in the eyes of the world. If you look at the map of Europe you will not be able to find a single country where there is forest coverage of more than 50 per cent of their land areas whereas in Malaysia we are above 50 per cent coverage even with diversified types of plantations and industries,” said the association.
The association also said the challenge is for EU countries to first make sure that their own backyards are 50 per cent forested before pointing fingers at palm oil producing countries otherwise, they are just hypocrites. More telling is that even World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in its statement on November 2018 stated that ‘…WWF cannot support the approach of any retailer that removes palm oil from its products. Palm oil when grown responsibly and to the best standards is the highest yielding vegetable oil’.
The statement further said any impartial person can do searches for the scientific proofs that palm oil indeed has been proven to be safe, nutritious and beneficial for human consumption in scientific journals online and in libraries worldwide.
Palm oil production in Malaysia is entering into sustainable practices with mandatory certification by end of 2019 which means that the oil can be proven to be sustainably produced, the statement emphasised.
“It is our commitment to the world that we are also concerned about sustainable practices for our main export item but we will not let others discriminate palm oil for all the wrong reasons.
As also stated in the WWF November 2018 report,’ Boycotting of palm oil will neither protect nor restore the rainforest’, whereas companies undertaking actions for a more sustainable palm oil industry are contributing to a long-lasting and transparent solution.”
Palm oil is still the most reliable and cheapest edible oil in the international market and with rising world population, sustainable and certified palm oil produced in Malaysia will be in demand for the years ahead, the statement added. KUCHING: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between HDU Drone Academy and Petrosar Academy to train commercial autonomous (UAV/ UAS) operators in the state.
HDU Drone Academy is accredited and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority Malaysia (CAAM) as the only academy in Sarawak that can conduct ground training, flight assessment, issue drone operator licence and conduct recurrent assessment.
“This is a quality course which caters to all market segments in Sarawak,” said Petrosar Academy director Feroz Hayat Khan prior to the signing of the MoU.
He added the MoU was a highly regarded collaboration which could cater to the huge market of drone operators and industries in Sarawak.
HDU Drone Academy examiner Alasdair Garrick, meanwhile, said the Drone Operator Licence Training Course was aimed at those in specialised industries such as the agriculture sector, power grid transmission lines, forestry, construction, oil and gas, mining, survey and mapping, and pipeline inspection.
“The course will be based on the UK’s programme to enable drone operators to fly safely and legally,” he said.
The course involves two days of ground course where the candidates are taught the laws and regulations of the Malaysian aviation industry and the basics to operate a drone.
This is followed by an examination and another two days of flight training on site where the candidates are taught how to maneuver the drone.
At the end of the training, candidates will be tested by the certified examiners. On the passing of the test, HDU Academy shall award the candidates Certificate of Completion and Drone Operator Licence, Class 1, sub 20kg which is approved and endorsed by CAAM.
Operators of illegal drone flights can be fined up to RM50,000 for individuals and RM100,000 for corporations or three years’ jail or both on conviction.
Fame International College general manager David Chew and his assistant Voon Boo Khoon, Petrosar Academy business development executive Ashwanie Mulliady and Geospecialist Azizul Jemain were also present at the signing ceremony.
HDU Drone Academy, Petrosar Academy sign MoU on drone training