Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman Helmy Othman Basha has called out the double standards faced by the industry when it comes to the issue of sustainability and environmental impact.
Helmy, managing director of SD Guthrie Bhd, said palm oil had been depicted as one of the greatest “environmental villains” over the past three decades, citing campaigns pushing against the sector.
On the other hand, he said, fossil fuel companies escape the same magnitude of scrutiny and criticism despite their emissions constituting the largest direct cause of climate change.
“When fossil fuel use is often excused in the name of ‘energy security’, sustainable palm oil is banned in the name of ‘deforestation’.
“Thanks to all these double standards that developing countries cannot afford to fight against, a new…