Malaysia to work with foreign experts to boost palm oil image

 

Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said Malaysia needed to counter the negative perceptions about palm oil. (Envato Elements pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is planning to work with foreign scientists and experts to boost the country’s palm oil image at the international level.

Deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof, who is also the plantation and commodities minister, said the move was also expected to provide neutral opinions to counter the negative perceptions related to palm oil.

“It’s true that the Vitamin E and antioxidant contents in palm oil should be publicised more widely.

“That’s why I said earlier, we should collaborate with foreign scientists to verify and help us in marketing (this).

“The negative perception needs to be countered. So we need to find people who are neutral to confirm (the benefits) and (help) market our products,” he said.

Fadillah said the marketing programme on the advantages of Malaysia’s palm oil had been broadened to countries that had not been previously explored.

“For instance, we see that in new markets like Saudi Arabia, there has been an increase in the export of our palm oil.

“Many countries in the African continent, besides Egypt and Turkey, also saw a bigger market share for our palm oil,” he said.

He said this when replying to a question from Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PN-Pasir Puteh) who wanted to know if the government had plans to implement palm oil campaigns in countries that had not been explored, such as in the Middle East.

He was also replying to a question from Bakri Jamaluddin (PN-Tangga Batu) who asked if there were efforts by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board to publicise the benefits of palm oil.

Fadillah said his ministry would also step up efforts to promote the benefits of palm oil in various languages on social media.

“Maybe we can increase what we are doing… by looking for foreign scientists and experts to give talks and whatever they write or review can be recorded and disseminated either via electronic publication or social media,” he said in response to a question from Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh).

Fadillah said Malaysia had also engaged foreign lobbyists and consultants in Europe and the United States.

“Yes, we do this continually. This is the approach for Europe and the US, we have to work with the consultants and lobbyists from overseas,” he said when replying to a question from Larry Sng (PBM-Julau). - FMT