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Last Updated: 03 March 2022

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PRESS STATEMENT ON CLOSURE OF PLANTATION OPERATIONS IN SABAH DURING MCO

YAB Chief Minister of Sabah yesterday made an announcement on the closure of estate and mill operations to an additional 3 districts bringing the areas affected to about 65% of the total planted hectarage of 1.2 million hectares and 75% of production in Sabah involving about 100,000 workers.

The Industry fully appreciate and understand the State Government concerns on the rising trend of Covid 19 incidents happening in Sabah and measures taken to save lives and we fully support the concerns.

The Industry however is even more concerned on the social impact to the closure decision as well as the resulting consequential damage to the Industry. This closure shall result in:

1. Idle workers being confirmed to their home for long hours without practicing social distancing and living in close proximity that can lead to contact to the virus.

2. Difficulty and impossible to stop them from leaving and the possibility of them wandering around thus posing a security and crime threat as well as defeating the objective of the MCO. Imagine 50,000 workers doing so.

3. Risk of losing our estate and mill workers. They will resort to leaving the estate searching for jobs elsewhere or returning to their home country for good. (Not all Companies can afford to pay without work)

4. Resumption and normalization of operation when allowed shall pose a big challenge to the Industry without the required workers available to do so. Extended harvesting rounds, high FFA and default palm oil contracts are some of the examples on the immediate impact to operations.

The above only highlight the operational nightmare notwithstanding the potential revenue loss of about RM860 million for a month closure in Sabah. The loss in the 7.5% sales tax revenue to the Government amounting to about RM57 million could actually be used to support the fight to contain Covid 19 that benefits the Rakyat.

The Industry has already given its commitment to support the Government in its battle to contain the spread by introducing and adhering to radical and robust guidelines and SOPs at all our estates and mills. Included in our action is what we called “ Voluntary Lockdown “We are even agreeable to a temporary closure to our operating units that have employees affected by the Covid 19 and taking the necessary measures to cleanse and disinfect the affected premises.

Considering all the above factors, we humbly request and appeal to the Sabah State Government to reconsider their decision and allow us to resume operation ONLY for the essential and critical operation example harvesting, crop evacuation as well as milling during the MCO. The Industry strongly feels that we can better contain the spread by continuing operations rather than curbing them.

THANK YOU.

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Last Updated: 07 February 2020

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MEDIA RELEASE

Medical Gloves Contributed by Malaysia-China Silk Route Chamber destined for other provinces in China

Today I am witnessing the sending off of 3.75 million pieces of hand gloves (both latex powder free and powdered types) and 20,000 pieces of protective clothing for medical use to China.

The medical gloves are donated by Malaysia-China Silk Route Chamber to be sent Hunan, Hubei, Hainan, Shandong and Guangdong.

Before this, Malaysia has pledged to contribute 18 million pieces of medical gloves in total to China through Malaysia Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) with nine rubber glove manufacturers in Malaysia had stepped forward for the cause.

This time the Malaysia-China Silk Route Chamber has came forward to heed the various requisitions for aid in kind from its counterparts and stakeholders from different parts of China. The requests were received during Lunar New Year where factories were mostly closed.

We are not duplicating the inaugural effort made by the local NGOs in aid of Wuhan, but instead zero in on municipalities contagiously hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

The Business Chamber is spearheading an ad hoc Aid- in -kind program, titled " To China With Love ". It has to solicit monetary sponsorship as well as to procure the necessary items for medical use, which are accepted by the Chinese authorities.

YB TERESA KOK
Minister of Primary Industries
PUTRAJAYA 7 February 2020

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Last Updated: 22 January 2020

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ELIGIBILITY FOR MALAYSIA SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL (MSPO) CERTIFICATION SCHEME INCENTIVES

1. Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) would like to refer to the Government announcement on 5 October 2019 that ONLY those who have successfully obtained the Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification or initiated the certification process before 1 January 2020 are eligible to apply for MSPO incentive.

2. Thus, with effect from 1st January 2020, MSPO incentives are only claimable by those entities who have signed agreements with Certification Bodies (CBs) before 1st January 2020 or are already in the process of MSPO certification audit.

3. As such, growers having more than 40.46 ha or 100 acres of oil palm and palm oil processing facilities that have initiated MSPO/SCCS certification process will need to submit a copy of the signed agreement with the appointed Certification Body to MPOCC. The eligible CBs are listed in MPOCC website (https://www.mpocc.org.my/certification-bodies)

4. Estates with areas between 40.46 to 1,000 ha will be eligible for 100% of auditing fees claim, which includes audit man-days, report writing, stakeholders consultation and peer review. In addition, they are also eligible for 50% preparation costs claims, limited to the costs for MSPO policies and system documents, social impact assessment (SIA), environment aspect and impact (EAI) report, high biodiversity value (HBV) report, training for Greenhouse Gas calculation and training for internal audit and management review. The amounts of reimbursement for preparation costs will be up to maximum RM10,000.

5. Estates with areas more than 1,000 ha and palm oil processing facilities such as mill, kernel crusher, refinery, oleochemical plant and biodiesel plant are eligible for 30% incentives of the audit fees.

6. MSPO incentives for independent smallholders and organised smallholders are under the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). For independent smallholders, MPOB will cover the cost of training, cost of auditing, documentation, personal protective equipment and chemical storage rack. Meanwhile, organised smallholders are eligible for RM55 per hectare to cover the cost of auditing, training, social and environmental impact assessments.


Statement by:
Mr Chew Jit Seng
Chief Executive Officer, MPOCC
21 January 2020

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Last Updated: 22 February 2022

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MEDIA STATEMENT

MALAYSIA SUSTAINABLE AGRICOMMODITY WEEK
(NON FOOD AGRICOMMODITIES) AT DUBAI 2020 EXPO

1. The agricommodity sector is one of Malaysia's main economic drivers, contributing significantly to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), export earnings, jobs, and business opportunities, including elevating the standard of living of our smallholders. For many years, the agricommodity sector has been Malaysia's vital instrument in reducing poverty in Malaysia.

2. Understanding the global demand for sustainable agri-commodities, the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC), as the Platinum Premier Partner for Malaysia Pavillion in Dubai 2020 Expo, is proud to showcase Malaysia's journey, efforts, and initiatives towards sustainable agricommodity sector.

3. The theme of the exhibition and lineup of events focus on the efforts undertaken by Malaysia towards advancing the Agricommodity sector in a sustainable manner while promoting its goodness and versatile applications of the agricommodities. The advancement and development of the agricommodity industry support and embed the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the plantation policies and management.

4. For Week 17, MPIC will host the Sustainable Agricommodity Week (Non-Food Agricommodities), running from 23rd January to 29th January 2022, as part of the 26 weekly thematic trade and business programmes organised by Malaysia Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai. The event will be officiated by The Honourable Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia, Datuk Hajah Zuraida Kamaruddin. Malaysia's participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is spearheaded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation as implementing agency. The week will focus on non-food agricultural commodities of Malaysia such as rubber, timber, and kenaf.

5. Among the week's highlights is the Malaysian Rubber Products Virtual Showcase (MaRViS). This online platform facilitates online business engagements between international buyers and Malaysian rubber product manufacturers by Malaysia Rubber Council, TimbeReality, a dedicated VR platform that displays Malaysian-made timber and furniture products by Malaysia Timber Council, The Rubber Forum 2022 organised by Malaysia Rubber Board and Malaysia Wood Expo 2022 by the Malaysia Timber Board. The Honourable Minister will also witness the signing of four Memorandum of Understandings, three from the timber subsector and one from the Kenaf subsector.

6. MPIC and its agencies have also lined up exciting activities for visitors to the Malaysia Pavilion, such as interactive latex painting arts, agarwood product demonstrations, rubber clay modeling, kenaf demonstration, and special talks on Malaysia kenaf, timber, and Malaysian sustainable timber certification.

7. Despite the rough economic climate worldwide, Malaysia's agricommodity trade continues to perform reasonably well. From January to November 2021, the agricommodity sector has contributed total export revenue of RM189.5 billion to the Malaysian economy. This value has exceeded Malaysia's total export revenue for 2020 of RM152 billion. Therefore, MPIC will continue to raise more awareness, expand its network and global alliances, and share the importance of our sustainable agricommodities efforts through Expo 2020 Dubai.

MINISTRY OF PLANTATION INDUSTRIES AND COMMODITIES
24 JANUARY 2022