MPOA supports Govt initiative towards fulfilling UN SDGs

PETALING JAYA: The success of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) scheme in rural transformation and providing land for the landless has become a model many countries are trying to emulate, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) chief executive Datuk Mohd Nageeb.

In a statement, he said Malaysia has many success stories to tell in rural empowerment and explained why the country’s rural economy has witnessed progressive change since independence. 

Nageeb said this was made possible through the efforts of the Malaysian government by establishing Agencies with the objective of eradicating poverty and improve the economic well being of the country through oil palm plantings in smallholdings. 

“The Felda 1956, Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (FELCRA 1966) and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA 1973) are the agencies established to develop the rural sector by helping people participate in national economic activities to raise their standard of living. 

“As a result of these agricultural development programmes, the GDP per capita of Malaysia has risen from US$234.90 in 1960 to US$9,944.90 in 2017. It is evident that these programmes are geared towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of fighting poverty and hunger,” he said. 

Nageed said the recent strengthening anti-palm oil lobby in the European Union and its continuous push to phase out palm oil from its markets was  a clear cut case of impeding Malaysia from achieving the UN SDGs. 

“EU’s discriminative action is definitely protective of its homegrown rapeseed and sunflower oils. But it will harm the livelihoods of more than three million farmers cultivating oil palms across developing nations,” he said.

“MPOA concurs with the Minister of Primary Industries that the discriminatory action taken by the EU will make our investments in sustainability futile. The phasing out of palm oil by the EU would threaten the livelihood of 650,000 smallholders and over 3.2 million Malaysians who rely on the palm oil industry,” he said, adding that the smallholders account for almost 40% of the total planted area in the country.