IPOH: The Perak state government has decided not to impose penalties on oil palm smallholders who have violated their land-use category conditions to ensure that every palm oil producer in the state can obtain the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (pix) said in addition to abolishing the penalties, the state government would also give an additional premium discount from RM300 a hectare to RM100 a hectare.
“The Perak Government is fully supportive of the Ministry of Primary Industries’ efforts to help palm oil producers obtain MSPO certification.
“The state government has approved the conversion of land-use category to palm or agricultural use for 791 oil palm smallholders in Perak involving a total area of 1460.37ha,“ he told reporters after a briefing session here yesterday. Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok was also present.
In the meantime, Teresa hoped that other state governments could follow in the footsteps of Perak to facilitate the land category conversion.
“I really hope other state governments can follow what the Perak state government is doing to help the smallholders,“ she said.
Earlier, in her address, Teresa said that as of July 31, 2.75 million hectares or 47% of the 5.85 million hectares of palm oil in Malaysia had been certified by MSPO.
The certification covers 2.35 million hectares of estate land, and 403,000ha owned by smallholders. — Bernama
