Palm Oil Ban: PM To Send Protest Letters To France, Norway

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will be writing letters to France and Norway to protest against their nations’ decision to ban palm oil, says Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim.

“We are working on it now. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will send in Malaysia’s official protests to the French president Emmanuel Macron and the Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg concerning their countries’ plans to ban palm biodiesel,” she said.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad will write letters to France and Norway to officially protest against their nations’ decision to ban palm oil. NSTP photo by GHAZALI KORI

She was speaking with reporters at the Reach and Remind, Friends of the Industry Seminar 2019 and Dialogue here today.

She said as a palm oil producing country, Malaysia would not tolerate the decision made by these countries and action must be taken or it would affect the bilateral trade relations between Malaysia and the EU.

Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok (centre) with Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) Chairman Datuk Lee Yeow Chor (2nd-right) during the launch of the Love MY Palm Oil campaign at The Majestic Hotel. - NSTP/NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM

“One by one, EU parliaments have passed this kind of resolution or rules,” she said.

It was earlier reported the Norwegian government had become the third EU country to pass a resolution to ban palm oil, after Switzerland and France.

Kok said that once the letters were completed, the ministry would send a copy to the Malaysian media.

Source: Bernama