Mah and delegation call on Abang Johari
KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday received a courtesy call from Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia.
The visit was meant to discuss strategies for developing the palm oil industry in Sarawak as it is the second largest producing state in the nation’s palm oil industry.
Mah informed Abang Johari of palm oil sustainability plans namely the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil ( MSPO) certification scheme and the European Union’s resolution on palm oil and tropical forest deforestation, and also gave a comprehensive review of the labour situation in the Malaysian palm oil plantation sector.
Mah said the implementation of the MSPO certification is mandatory effective December 31, 2019 as a long-term benefit to further strengthen the palm oil industry, especially in the export of palm oil products to the global market and to be the basis for Malaysia’s palm oil branding in the future.
Also discussed were Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement ( FLEGT-VPA) between Malaysia and the European Union to enhance the competitiveness of the timber industry and ensure access to the EU’s market.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, MPIC secretary- general Datuk K. Yogeesvaran and chief executive officer of Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council Harnarinder Singh were also present during the visit.