KUALA LUMPUR: The principles of justice must be upheld when dealing with claims of labour practices or environmental matters on the palm oil industry, said Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin.

       "This is a rather unfair treatment as the principle of justice is not being practised when it comes to allegations against the palm oil industry. When they receive one complaint, they put us on their so-called blacklist straightaway. But there is no verification process and this is something that must be highlighted," Zuraida said at a press conference at the Palm & Lauric Oils Conference & Exhibition 2022.

       "Whatever claims that are made must be backed by a verification process. But there is no such process now. We, on the other hand, can also claim that rapeseed, corn or sunflower oil are the products that are causing deforestation. Because a palm oil plantation can last for 25 years while replantings for the other oils such as soy oil has to be done every year," she added.

       That being said, Zuraida noted that countries which are producing edible oils are all friendly parties and there should be cooperation between them.

       "There are many things that we have done to improve the management of our plantations. This has been told to them but they have not heard or listened to our points. But we are still engaging with them and probably there are things that they are not aware of or is being lost in communication," she said.