New funds to benefit Sarawak smallholders

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Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas

KUCHING: A new RM510 million fund announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for smallholders for the planting and replanting of oil palm would greatly benefit the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this is because smallholders in Sarawak have a preference for oil palm.

Uggah said he would submit the state’s request for funds to Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.

“I will discuss that with Datuk Mah, who will be coming to Sarawak on the 6th of June.

“We will have a detailed discussion with him and we will submit our request for Sarawak’s allocation during that meeting  to raise various issues on implementation of subsidy for oil palms in Sarawak,” he said yesterday.

Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, added he will also discuss how to ensure Sarawakian smallholders can get Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which will be made mandatory by Dec 31, 2019 with Mah.

“It is important to make sure the industry is sustainably managed.

“The certification is a reflection of sustainability practices in the planting of oil palm,” he explained.

He called on all organisations and associations representing smallholders and farmers to work towards certification.

On Thursday, Najib announced an allocation of RM510 million for smallholders to mark the celebration of 100 years of commercial oil palm planting in Malaysia.

Najib said the government will take steps towards sustainability by adopting the MSPO initiative.

MSPO seeks to take the industry to a higher level of sustainability and transparency throughout the entire supply chain by requiring all groups of producers meet a broad range of standards.

Najib said the move aims to improve accessibility and competitiveness as well as give advantage to Malaysia in the global palm oil market.