KOTA KINABALU: Palm Oil mill operators and industry players should follow waste management guidelines to reduce the environmental impact in Sabah, says Datuk Christina Liew.
The state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said the relevant procedures and requirements must be taken into account in the management of palm oil mills.
"By implementing environmental management practices, these mills can minimise their ecological footprint, mitigate negative impacts on the environment, and contribute to a more sustainable palm oil industry,” she said at the opening of a seminar here on Thursday (June 22).
Liew’s speech was delivered by ministry deputy permanent secretary II Alesia Sion at the Awareness Seminar for Guidelines on Waste Management (Effluent and Solid Wastes) for Palm Oil Mills in Sabah, organised by the state Environment Protection Department (EPD).
"In recent years, efforts have been made to promote sustainable practices and standards such as Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification," she said.
She said all stakeholders needed to identify, address and manage issues effectively for the industry's sustainable development and to minimise or prevent environmental issues related to palm oil mills.
Liew said palm oil is one of Sabah’s most essential commodities and in 2020, Sabah generated more than five million tonnes, accounting for about 6% of worldwide output.
She stressed that the industry is vital to the national economy and more specifically to this state.
"As of this year, Sabah has 128 palm oil mills across the state, particularly in areas with a high concentration of oil palm plantations,” she said.
Some of the prominent mill locations in Sabah include Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Tawau, Kinabatangan, Beaufort, Keningau and Sipitang.
From her observation, although such mills are under the purview of the Environment Department (DOE) at Federal level, the state EPD was continuously enhancing environmental management in Sabah.
She said this was reflected in the recent publication of its guidelines on waste management for palm oil mills.
"As we are aware, maintaining the balance between development and a healthy environment is challenging, requiring strong and meaningful coordination among relevant agencies and stakeholders.
"With environmental sustainability in mind, we must have mechanisms in place to manage the impact from development activities, including... palm oil mills," she said.
