Vital to promote palm oil-based products

PETALING JAYA: From everyday household products, skincare to biscuits, local industry players want to make it known that palm oil can be a lucrative business.

MBH Cosmeceutical Sdn Bhd managing director Foo Chit Seong, who has been in the market for 12 years, said the trend showed that there was a growing demand for palm oil products.

Malaysia, he said, could follow in the footsteps of South Korea in promoting palm oil-based products to the market.

“Palm oil is known to be rich in beta-carotene. Its health benefits are numerous and are particularly good for the hair and skin.

“If we package our products properly and tailor-make them for our consumers, we can become as good as Korea in promoting beauty products,” he said at the sidelines of a seminar yesterday.

The seminar on the “Challenges of Primary Resources Industry: Is Development of Downstream Products An Option for Nation Growth?” was held by the Women Division of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) and Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall yesterday.

Foo said there were ongoing moves to discredit the use of palm oil-based products in the beauty and cosmetic sector.

“I think the anti-palm oil campaign has been unfair.

“If we compare it with the production of olive or coconut oil, they also need big plantation areas to produce the oil but do not face the same kind of challenges,” he said.

Foo said it was important to have more public education on the use of the palm oil and palm kernel oil.

“Small and medium businesses can also work together with larger international brands to produce locally made palm oil-based beauty products including lotions and cleansers,” he said.