KUALA KANGSAR: Orang Asli smallholders only need to obtain confirmation letters from their respective state governments to secure a license to sell oil palm fruits they have cultivated.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani stated that similar relaxed rules apply to owners of Native Customary Rights in Sarawak who lack grants.
Johari explained that new requirements for owners wishing to renew their licenses include obtaining a land grant to comply with set standards.
This is particularly important as Malaysia exports about 15 million tonnes of palm oil to countries like China, India and European countries.
If Orang Asli plant oil palm but lack a title, they must seek confirmation from the state government, which will be considered as a title.
The key point is that they cannot cut down forests without permission, and since 2020, any forest cleared and later planted with oil palm will not be granted the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification (MSPO).
Johari mentioned this during a press conference after launching the world's first AI-based smart palm oil mill.
He added that without an MSPO certification, oil palm growers cannot sell their produce to the mills.
Further, Johari emphasised the government's need to handle the oil palm issue carefully due to its export value exceeding RM100bil per year.
On Monday, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) urged the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) to relax conditions for selling oil palm fruits without requiring land grants and licenses, as it burdens smallholders, particularly the Orang Asli community.
He noted that the issue also affects owners of inherited land with unresolved or administratively pending land division claims.
