Kuala Lumpur, 11 February 2021 – Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) refers to a recent news report headlined “Buyers shun major Malaysian palm oil producers after forced labour allegations”. As stated in the article, SDP’s major customers have expressed support and are working closely with us to better understand the substance of the allegations that have been made against us. Many of our customers have committed to sustainable sourcing and thus truly appreciate and understand our efforts to ensure our operations are managed well, sustainably and responsibly.

SDP remains committed to addressing the withhold release order (WRO) issued by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In the absence of useful information from the original complainant to assist us, we have already conducted internal assessments of our entire Malaysian operations. Our findings do not reveal any systemic issues in our operations. Nevertheless, as stated previously, we will also engage independent assessors to ensure that we leave no stone unturned in our quest to secure a completely safe and nurturing environment for all our workers, regardless of gender or nationality. Meanwhile, we have maintained regular engagements with all our customers to ensure they are updated and appraised of all developments.