DEPUTY Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said the second European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) meeting in December was expected to recognise the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification as part of the EUDR audit process.

Fadillah, who is also plantation and commodities minister, said the recognition of the MSPO aimed to ensure palm oil cultivation did not affect the environment and was based on sustainable agricultural practices.

“Our commitment to the world is that (the area of) our forests must not be less than 50%, so we have to balance the need for (oil palm) production.

“At the same time, we do not sacrifice our environment. This is our commitment for future generations,” he told reporters after attending the Sarawak smallholder MSPO strengthening programme in Sungai Selad, Sebemban, about 30km from Bintulu today.

Fadillah said the first EUDR meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on August 4, yielded positive results for Malaysia, but the second meeting in Kuala Lumpur would finalise if the MSPO was accepted as part of the EUDR audit process.

In his speech at the programme, Fadillah asked Sarawak smallholders to join the Sustainable Oil Palm Growers’ Cooperatives so they could apply for MSPO as a group.

He said the group could help ensure smallholders cultivate oil palm using good farming methods that comply with MSPO conditions.

“We know if every smallholder wants to take the MSPO, it would be expensive. That is why we will set up a cooperative that will help them get the MSPO certificate,” he said.

“I call on anyone who is not yet a cooperative member to join one, while districts that do not yet have a cooperative should establish one to increase the income of smallholders and develop our palm oil industry,” Fadillah said. – Bernama, October 28, 2023.