Endorsing palm oil biofuel ban a step backwards for M’sia-EU
KUALA LUMPUR: The vote on Nov 28, 2017 by the Industry, Research & Energy Committee (ITRE) of the European Union’s (EU) Parliament to endorse the ban on palm oil biofuels in Europe, under EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) is a step backwards for EU-Malaysia trade relations.
MinisterofPlantationIndustries and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, said the government would be compelled to take every necessary action to protect the rights of 650,000 small farmers and secure the future of the palm oil sector that has lifted millions of Malaysians out of poverty.
“The move to exclude palm oil biofuels from the EU’s renewable energy is a step backwards for EU-Malaysia trade ties.
“Taken together with the vote fromtheEuropeanEnvironmental Committee (ENVI) in October 2017, this clearly shows the EU intentionally plans to restrict the imports of palm oil biofuels.
“Any attempt to discriminate against, or exclude, palm oil biofuels will negatively impact European trade and cooperation in Malaysia, and the wider Southeast Asian region,” he said in a statement after the EU Parliament’s ITRE voted to endorse the ban on palm oil biofuels in Europe under EU’s RED.
In addition, the ITRE Committee’s endorsement would allow competitor oilseeds to continue operating under the RED, whereas palm oil would be excluded, he said.
“The Malaysian Government views this as an unacceptable protectionist trade barrier and a breach of the EU’s World Trade Organisation commitments. Therefore, we will respond strongly should this provision be confirmed in the final directive as protectionist discrimination against Malaysian palm oil exports will not be tolerated,” he said.
As world-leading sustainable palm oil producing country, Malaysia has demonstrated serious commitment towards sustainability by making the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil standard to be mandatory for all Malaysian producers.
“In fact, Malaysia’s forest protection is vastly superior to that of almost every EU member state and Malaysia has one of the most advanced forest protection regimes in the world, as recognised by the United Nations and the World Bank, among others.
“Over and above, Malaysian palm oil exporters are able to meet the strictest standards of sustainability required by our European customers, and Malaysian palm oil biofuel exporters have been certified as sustainable by leading European sustainability schemes, including the German International Sustainability and Carbon Certification,” he said.
The Malaysian Government interpreted the attempts by EU members of Parliament (MPs) as insulting and denigratory, he said, adding that continued false and misleading allegations made by them relating to palm oil’s environmental impact were a clear attempt to smear the good name of Malaysian palm oil. — Bernama KOTA KINABALU: Alliance Bank will upgrade its banking facilities and staffing levels at Jalan Gaya branch after the closing of Luyang Damai branch.
The bank said that as a fullfledged branch with consumer and business banking facilities, it is confident that the branch will be more than adequately equipped to serve all itsp customers.
As for the customers’ concern over parking bays at the Jalan Gaya branch, the bank said it worked with the city council for reserved parking bays in front of the branch.
“We are pleased to announce that we have recently received approval for reserved parking bays, specifically for Alliance Bank customers,” Alliance Bank said in a statement yesterday.
It also confirmed that all the Luyang Damai relationship managers will be moving to the Jalan Gaya branch to continually serve their customers.
“We look forward to introducing more innovative products next year such as our allianceonline mobile banking app, which allows our customers to fulfil their banking needs anytime, anywhere.
“We thank the community of Luyang Damai and look forward to serving them better at the Jalan Gaya branch “said the bank.
Customers of Alliance Bank have expressed concern that it would be difficult for them to perform daily transactions such as cash and cheque withdrawals and deposits after the closing of Luyang Damai branch.
The bank has earlier announced that it will maintain a 24/7 e-lobby in Luyang Damai for the convenience of customers.
The move to exclude palm oil biofuels from the EU’s renewable energy is a step backwards for EU-Malaysia trade ties. Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities