Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad clarified today that the possibility of buying Chinese fighter jets in retaliation to the European Union's ban on palm biofuels was just a suggestion.
"That was merely a suggestion. We haven't made any decision," he told reporters at Universiti Putra Malaysia today after attending a Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) event.
Yesterday, Mahathir warned that if the EU persisted with its ban on palm biofuels, Putrajaya may be forced to buy fighter jets and planes from China, instead of its planned purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon jet.
"If we have to buy fighter jets, we will have to buy from China. I think they do not lack in technology," he said yesterday.
Today, Mahathir clarified that Putrajaya has no current plans on buying any jets.
"We may not buy any jets at all," he said.
Asked whether Putrajaya was discussing the EU ban with Indonesia – the world's largest producer of palm oil – Mahathir said Jakarta would be engaged in discussions.
Mahathir previously claimed that the looming EU ban is a result of palm oil being cheaper than the soybean oil produced in Europe.
Europe is accusing the Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil industry of unsustainable practices – including deforestation, loss of wildlife habitats and native communities being displaced due to the rapid expansion of plantations.
According to Mahathir, however, the EU is against deforestation because it wants less-developed countries to produce oxygen for the planet, as its own forests had been depleted.
The European Parliament is in the process of banning the use of palm oil for biofuels, while UK retailer Iceland has stopped using palm oil in its products. - Mkini
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