Orang Asli Without Land Grants, Licences Must Refer To State Governments For Palm Oil Sales - Johari

KUALA KANGSAR, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- The Orang Asli community intending to sell oil palm fruit but lacking land grants and licences must refer to their respective state governments, says Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

He said that the requirements for land grants and licences applied to all players in the domestic palm oil industry.

“If such cases involve the Orang Asli, they should approach the state government, seek verification, and we can consider recognising the land as their property (title),” he said after officiating the 'World's First AI-Based Smart Palm Oil Mill,' a collaboration between Minsawi Industries (Kuala Kangsar) Sdn Bhd and AIREI Sdn Bhd, here today.

He clarified that unauthorised deforestation for oil palm cultivation disqualified the Orang Asli from obtaining the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, thereby preventing them from selling their produce.

Yesterday, media reports highlighted that Bera MP Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a former prime minister, urged the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) during a parliamentary debate to relax the requirements for land grants and licences for selling oil palm fruit, arguing that these rules burdened smallholders, especially the Orang Asli community.

Meanwhile, Johari said the requirement for land grants and licences for selling oil palm fruit was introduced to meet the European Union Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) standards.

He noted that Malaysia produces 18.6 million tonnes of palm oil annually and exports 13 to 14 million tonnes of that amount to China, India, and Europe.

To comply with European certification standards, he stressed that all oil palm plantations must have legal ownership.

-- BERNAMA