With reference to an article from Reuters dated 4 February 2020 entitled ‘Malaysian palm oil bosses urge action against 'toxic' environment groups’, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (SDP) would like to clarify that the statement highlighted in the report does not represent SDP’s approach to our NGO stakeholders. The statement by Datuk Franki Anthony Dass was made in his capacity as Chairman of Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC ) and not directed towards the NGO fraternity as a whole. It was referring to the misbehaviour of certain unreasonable NGOs that are trying to discredit painstaking efforts by the industry to raise its sustainability standards via certification such as the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO).

SDP would like to reiterate our full support towards the MSPO and the efforts by the Malaysian government to get everyone, including smallholders who form a significant size of planted areas in Malaysia, to be MSPO certified.

It is public knowledge that for many years, SDP has collaborated openly and successfully with many NGOs whose feedback and inputs were instrumental in our journey and various efforts towards sustainability. Their valuable insights have helped SDP develop our internal policies and charters including the Responsible Agricultural Charter and Human Rights Charter that define our approach to responsible practices.

SDP values highly our partnership with these NGOs and we will continue to work with them as well as other stakeholders who share the same collaborative approach towards finding viable and sustainable solutions to issues surrounding palm oil.

We believe our NGO partners also share the same positive view towards working with SDP, as well as other players who are committed towards creating a sustainable future for the palm oil industry.