Pita Minamas Gemilang Calls For Proactive MeasuresPita Minamas Gemilang Calls For Proactive MeasuresPita Minamas Gemilang Calls For Proactive MeasuresPita Minamas Gemilang Calls For Proactive Measures
  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Sime Darby Plantation Worldwide
    • Our Journey
    • Our Products
    • Our Leaders
    • Our Awards and Recognitions
    • Corporate Governance
  • What We Do
    • Our Strategy
    • Our Businesses
  • Innovation
    • Overview
    • GenomeSelect™
    • Precision Agriculture
    • Automating Plantations
    • Eco-Solutions
    • Food Science
    • Innovation Challenge
  • Sustainability
    • Overview
    • Climate Action
    • Human Rights
    • Responsible Sourcing
    • Reports, Policies and Statements
  • Our People
    • Growing Together
    • Opportunities
    • What Do Our People Say?
    • Connect With Us
  • Investor Relations
    • Overview
    • Stock and Shareholder Information
    • Financial Information
    • Operational Information
    • Investor Resources
    • Analyst Coverage
    • ESG Index and Credit Ratings
    • Bursa Announcements
    • Annual Reports and Presentations
Procurement
#SDPnetzero

Pita Minamas Gemilang Calls For Proactive Measures

  • Home
  • Press Releases and Public Updates
  • Pita Minamas Gemilang Calls For Proactive Measures
28 June 2013

Pita Minamas Gemilang Calls For Proactive Measures

28 June 2013 - In an effort to address proactively the current issue with the haze from fires in Riau Province in Sumatra, Indonesia, and its causes, PT Minamas Gemilang calls on all other stakeholders to enter into constructive dialogue to find a sustainable solution to the problem.

PT Minamas, a subsidiary of Sime Darby Plantation, is one of the largest players in the Indonesian palm oil industry with operations in the Riau Province.

“It is time for all stakeholders to work together to find a way to address what has become an annual problem of the haze, and the tremendous toll it takes on the environment and the health of affected communities on both sides of the Straits of Malacca,” said Sime Darby Plantation Managing Director, Datuk Franki Anthony Dass. “On our part, PT Minamas would be happy to assist and participate in any constructive discussion on this matter. Local communities, civil society groups, academics and other companies operating in affected areas should offer technical assistance and support to the Government of Indonesia to study the issues and address the root causes of the problem,” Dass added. Among the issues that would need to be addressed include:

  • the responsibilities of different stakeholders
  • how various stakeholder groups can work together to prevent future occurrences
  • legal issues pertaining to land use and occupation
  • best agricultural management practices

In the last few weeks, fires in the Riau Province have resulted in a hazardous smog blanketing Singapore, parts of Malaysia and southern Thailand. Indonesian authorities have long sought a solution to this annual problem. Between 11 June and 19 June, five hot spots were found on land within the concession area of PT Bhumireksa Nusa Sejati (PT BNS), a company owned by PT Minamas. However, examination of satellite data and on ground assessment teams established that these fires were not in areas planted by the company. (The result of the on-ground assessment or berita acara is attached as Appendix 1). Local communities in these areas plant a variety of cash crops such as corn and sugar cane. Under current regulations and conventions dealing with local communities and the preservation of traditional farming methods, concession holders are unable to control or influence the practices and activities of these communities.

“PT Minamas has conducted awareness programmes on the negative impact of slash and burn activities on local communities in the peat areas. It intends to intensify this awareness programme together with other plantation companies and local authorities,” Dass said.

Sime Darby Plantation, the world’s largest producer of certified sustainable palm oil, has had a zero burning policy since 1985. In Indonesia, 20 of the company’s 25 mills under PT Minamas have been certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). The RSPO is a voluntary certification body, whose members include civil society groups and players along the entire palm oil value chain.

“There are several companies within the palm oil industry who observe high agricultural standards. As an industry, we could contribute significantly to discussions on how to solve this problem,” Dass said.

For its part, Sime Darby Plantation and PT Minamas would bring to the table, more than 100 years of expertise in best agricultural practices backed by cutting edge R&D capabilities, experience in establishing responsible and successful outgrowers’ schemes and experience in the management of land, on both peat and non-peat soil.

Sime Darby Plantation has studied two other areas, one where the company is managing an area cultivated on peat land by local communities under the plasma, or outgrowers’ scheme, and another where it had acquired a plantation established on peat soil (attached as Appendix 2). In the first area in Jambi, South Sumatra, local farmers, under the plasma scheme, plant oil palm but are exposed to and educated in the company’s best agricultural policies.

In the other area in Lavang, Sarawak, Malaysia, Sime Darby Plantation manages a small estate in which no fires have been recorded since the inception of planting in the mid 1990s as a result of efficient water table management, encouraging beneficial vegetation to protect the soil and strict adherence to the company’s policies.

“Out in Riau, our officials and fire fighting teams are already assisting the local authorities and communities to spot and put out fires,” Dass said. “However, for the longer term, sustainable solutions that do not undermine the rights of local communities and traditional farming methods need to be found. For this to be effective, we need multi-stakeholder discussions.”

In 2008, Sime Darby Plantation implemented a strict policy prohibiting the clearing of peat areas. Existing areas that were cleared before the implementation of policy are carefully managed to ensure that there is minimal environmental impact.

Share

Related posts

30 March 2023

Sime Darby Plantation to restore peat land with Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation


Read more
22 February 2023

Sime Darby Plantation welcomed US delegation to Carey Island operations


Read more
17 February 2023

Sime Darby Plantation chalks up higher FY2022 Net Profit of RM2.49 billion


Read more
WHO WE ARE

About Us
Sime Darby Plantation Worldwide
Our Journey
Our Products
Our Leaders
Our Awards and Recognitions
Corporate Governance

INNOVATION

Overview
GenomeSelect™
Precision Agriculture
Automating Plantations
Eco-Solutions
Food Science
Innovation Challenge

SUSTAINABILITY

Overview
Climate Action
Human Rights
Responsible Sourcing
Reports, Policies and Statements

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Overview
Stock and Shareholder Information
Financial Information
Operational Information
Investor Resources
Analyst Coverage
ESG Index and Credit Ratings
Bursa Announcements
Annual Reports and Presentations

WHAT WE DO

Our Strategy
Our Businesses

Web Design Company

MEDIA

Press Releases and Public Updates
Resource Centre
Notices

OUR PEOPLE

Growing Together
Opportunities
What Do Our People Say?
Connect With Us

CONTACT US

© Copyright Sime Darby Plantation Berhad.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms of Use Important Notice Personal Data Protection Act 2010

    #SDPnetzero



      This website uses cookies in order to offer you the most relevant information. Please accept cookies for optimal performance.



      By accessing this website, we may collect and process your personal data for various purposes. 


      Read More



      Accept

      Ignore


      Manage consent

      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
      Necessary
      Always Enabled
      Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
      CookieDurationDescription
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
      viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
      Functional
      Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
      Performance
      Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
      Analytics
      Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
      Advertisement
      Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
      Others
      Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
      SAVE & ACCEPT
    • How we use Cookies

      A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer’s hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.

      We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.

      A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.

      You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

      PDPA NOTICE

      Click to see the Personal Data Protection Act 2010.