Hanging on for dear life: An orang utan enjoying fruit while holding its baby at the Sepilok Orangutan Conservation Centre. – Bernama
KOTA KINABALU: The government has shelved its proposed “orang utan diplomacy” plan and will instead focus on conserving the endangered species, says Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The Plantation and Commodities Minister said conservationists were against the idea of sending out orang utan for adoption by palm oil importing countries.
“We have decided to keep our orang utan in their own natural habitat,” he told reporters after launching the World Orang Utan Day celebration organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) at the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre in Sandakan yesterday.
Johari said conservationists had advised against the plan, similar to China’s “panda diplomacy,” that he mooted on May 8.
“In my speech during the Biodiversity Forum 2024 in May, I proposed the idea of ‘orang utan diplomacy’ as an initiative to address the negative perceptions of the Malaysian palm oil industry.
“The idea received widespread coverage from both local and international media.
“Various parties, including NGOs and environmental activists, welcomed the proposal although there were some dissenting voices,” he said.
According to Johari, WWF-Malaysia had said that the orang utan population in Sabah is stable with a population of about 10,000 to 15,000. In Sarawak, there are about 2,000.
He said this was based on a census conducted between May 2014 and March 2017.
“MPOGCF will be allocating RM1.23mil to non-governmental organisation Hutan to carry out an orang utan census between 2023 and 2025.
“We expect to obtain the latest population (figures) then.”
The palm oil industry initiatives, through MPOGCF, will undertake orang utan conservation, where an in-situ approach will be adopted and all conservation activities will take place in natural habitats, whether in forests or in forest patches, within oil palm plantations known as high conservation value areas.
“Orang utan will be free to move, forage and breed without disturbance from humans, agricultural activities or tourism,” said Johari.
“Through this programme, any importer of Malaysian palm oil from around the world can choose to sponsor one or more orang utan. The funds collected will be used to implement various related programmes.
“These include collaborating with a team of rangers, comprising experts, to monitor the presence, safety and condition of these wild animals,” he added.
Johari also commended Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd, as well as the Sabah and Sarawak state governments, for their efforts in orang utan conservation.
“Sawit Kinabalu, a Sabah state-owned company, manages 67,000ha of oil palm plantations.
“Since 2003, the company has spent over RM10mil in conserving the orang utan population in the Sungai Pin Conservation Area.
“Currently, there are 55 wild orang utan within this 2,600ha area,” he said.
He said the Malaysian palm oil industry is under scrutiny as other countries producing edible oils are claiming that the country’s plantations are killing the orang utan.
Johari stressed that the Malaysian government’s policy is to stop opening up new oil palm plantations in forest areas to support the conservation of 54% of the country’s forest cover.
He added that palm fruit harvested from illegally deforested areas are barred from entering palm oil mills.
“Factories accepting such fruit will be prohibited from exporting or selling their products,” he said, adding that the country has sufficient oil palm plantations.
He said Malaysia is committed to maintaining its forest cover at 54% in an effort to protect its biodiversity, including safeguarding the orang utan.
Johari said Malaysia has been taking steps to ensure its palm oil meets the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard certification, which was made mandatory for all producers, from major plantations to smallholders.
“The government is committed to addressing these false claims. We are making the MSPO certification mandatory,” he said.
He said there was a positive response from local industry players, who recognised the need to adopt sustainability practices, particularly as Malaysia exports 80% of its palm oil.
