Ahead of the European Parliament’s vote January 17 on the EU Commission proposal on the promotion of renewable energy sources (RES), the Malaysian Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong called on MEPs to halt the "blatant discrimination" of the Malaysian palm oil sector.
Minister Mah’s statement followed protests by Malaysian Palm Oil Smallholders who took to the streets in opposition to the EU’s effort to ban Malaysian palm oil biofuels.
It is noted that smallholders have come out in large numbers against the European Union’s effort to ban Palm Oil biofuels under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). These protests are a clear signal to the European Parliament and Council as well as to the EU President that Malaysian smallholders are upset and unhappy with the efforts to ban palm oil biofuels from the European marketplace and underscore our resolve to protect our national interests, said Minister Mah
According to the statement, the Malaysian Government views the proposed ban as an effort by Europe to impose a “Crop Apartheid” on Malaysia’s 650 000 palm oil smallholders. Malaysia will take the “necessary action” in order to protect the rights of more than 3.2 million Malaysians whose livelihoods depend on the palm oil sector.
The proposed ban would allow competitor oilseed crops to continue operating under the RED, whereas palm oil will be excluded as of 2021. This is “blatant discrimination” and the EU has always stood against discrimination. I call on the EU to stop discriminating against our palm oil sector, Minister Mah said.
