Malaysia has taken important steps to balance economic growth and environmental sustainability by halting the expansion of new oil palm plantations in forested areas.
The policy aims to preserve the country's forest cover, currently 54%, while addressing global concerns over deforestation and biodiversity loss.
The Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, insisted that palm fruits harvested from forest areas that were illegally cut down will be prohibited from being processed in oil palm factories.
Factories that receive the fruit will face restrictions on exporting or selling their products.
This policy is part of Malaysia's wider strategy to ensure that all palm oil exports comply with international sustainability standards.
Mandatory Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification for all producers, including plantations and smallholders, plays an important role in this effort.
MSPO certification not only reassures international buyers about the sustainability and quality of Malaysian palm oil but also counters negative perceptions from some Western countries about the industry's environmental impact.
The palm oil sector is important to Malaysia's economy, contributing 3% of the country's GDP and generating over RM100 billion in export revenue.
In addition, it provides employment for around one million people. Through these measures, Malaysia demonstrates its commitment to sustainable palm oil production, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of environmental protection.
