Things aren't looking so hot for the palm oil industry right now, thanks to successful campaigning by environmental groups such as Greenpeace and others, highlighting the devastating environmental impact producing palm oil can have. In a controversial move, however, Malaysia — the world's second biggest palm oil producer — is planning to go all out to defend the industry as European lawmakers prepare for an eventual ban from 2030. On January 8, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok detailed some of these plans, which include official letters written by Malaysia's prime minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad, and a "Love MY Palm Oil" campaign, according to a Bernama report. According to Kok, Mahathir will be writing letters to the leaders of both France and Norway to protest the European Parliament's decision to ban palm oil. Norway is the third EU country to ban palm oil after Switzerland and France, according to New Straits Times. The news website quoted Kok as saying: "Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will send in Malaysia's official protests to the French president Emmanuel Macron and the Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg concerning their countries' plans to ban palm biodiesel." She added that the letters will be made public once completed. Kok also said that, if action isn't taken, the ban could affect bilateral trade relations between Malaysia and the EU, saying Malaysia — a palm oil producing country — would not tolerate the decision made by these countries. At the same time, Kok also announced the launch of a new campaign targeted at Malaysians. Speaking at an event organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Kok was quoted by Malay Mail as saying that Malaysians "are not aware of the socio-economic importance and nutritional value of palm oil, besides it being more environment-friendly compared with other competing oils". Read more: These are the 17 countries that have done the most to limit global warming since 2017 According to Malay Mail's report, Kok said many Malaysians were being taken in by aggressive anti-palm oil campaigns. Also, she noted that some local businesses had started selling imported products labelled "no palm oil". The year-long "Love MY Palm Oil" campaign will be launched by Mahathir in the first quarter of this year, Malay Mail reported, and is aimed at instilling national pride and greater appreciation for Malaysian palm oil. According to Kok, events and activities targeting industry members, professionals, students, academia and the general public will be held to raise awareness on the campaign. A Reuters report on Wednesday said that a study had found that the palm oil industry was deploying tactics similar to those of the alcohol and tobacco industries to influence research into the health effects of its product. The study, originally conducted by the World Health Organization, also called for more research and tighter regulation of the $60 billion industry.
Malaysia is defending the palm oil industry, as the EU looks to ban the commodity from 17 because of its detrimental impact on the environment. Malaysian prime minister Mahathir bin Mohamad will write to the Norwegian and Malaysian leaders to protest EU move, while a marketing campaign in support of palm oil is also planned. Malaysian primary industries minister Mahathir bin Mohamad warned the ban could damage trade relations between Malaysia and the EU .