Malaysia hopes France's support can become a reality at meeting

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia hopes that France's stand against the European Union's (EU) resolution to ban palm oil imports from Asian countries can become a reality during the negotiating session between the EU Council of Ministers and EU members of Parliament.
In a statement today, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, said the open support of the French government representatives for the sustainable palm industry was important.
"It is capable of correcting negative perceptions among ministers from 28 EU countries that will take part in the talks," he said.
Mah said of the 751 members of the EU parliament, France has the second highest number of representatives at 74, compared to Germany's 96.
"Malaysia hopes that French representatives will give due consideration and support Malaysia's efforts to defend and uphold social justice for over 650,000 smallholders," he said.
He said Malaysia's exports to France amounted to RM5.3 billion, mainly electrical and electronics products, as well as rubber-based products, from January to November 2017.
On Monday, Mah met with French Defence Minister, Florence Parly, at the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur.
Also present was Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
At the meeting, Parly had said France did not support discriminatory policies and the French government appreciated the goodwill enjoyed between Malaysia and France.
The EU Parliament's resolution urged the union to phase out palm oil from the EU biofuel programme by 2020 because it resulted in the deforestation. — Bernama