Malaysia’s ministers had better take heed, and our farmers had better take stern measures: one of UK’s major supermarkets is taking action against the devastation of tropical rainforests by refusing to stock food products which contain palm oil.
The supermarket chain, Iceland, which specialises in frozen food, announced the move in a press release on April 10.
Alerted by environmental group Greenpeace, the supermarket said it would do its bit for the environment by removing all own-brand products which contain palm oil.
These products range from biscuits to cosmetics, and syrups to soaps. By the end of the year, none of the supermarket’s own-brand products containing palm oil will be stocked.
There are several issues associated with the manufacturing of palm oil. Land is cleared for oil palm and farmers are encouraged to plant this one crop, sometimes to the extent of being banned from planting food crops.
Experts have warned that Malaysia is heavily reliant on food imports, and that the nation will starve in the event of a global economic crisis or war. Simply put, we have lost the ability to produce our own food.
The other problem is that greedy corporations clear many acres of virgin jungle to plant oil palm. Greedy timber companies, working in cahoots with them, log centuries-old trees. The remaining trees are razed or bulldozed.
This indiscriminate act affects the indigenous population as well as the wild animals on which the Orang Asli depend for food.
The native people have to be relocated, and they lose all their ancestral land rights. When they are rehoused far from the forests and given land with poor soil to cultivate their crops, they often fall into a state of depression. Their children become malnourished, and without any source of income, their economic plight worsens.
Although they once lived in green forests with clean air and water, their new homes are located on barren soil where they have to pay for electricity and water.
Once in a while, a minister may pay them a visit and suggest that they make rattan goods like baskets to sustain an income. Such ministers may fail to realise that the Orang Asli are now far from the cane which grows in natural forests.
The Orang Asli still in the forests may also become malnourished as the wild boar, deer and fish which were their sources of protein are either killed or migrate.
The animals fare no better than the people; when their food sources have gone, the orangutan die or are captured.
Over the years, allegations have been raised on corruption in Malaysia’s agriculture and aquaculture industries. Since the 1970s and 1980s, people have been worried about the direction of the nation’s food production. Ministers meanwhile appear to be clueless about the effects of monoculture and the accompanying problems.
Both our farmers and our economy will suffer if Iceland’s stance is emulated by other food manufacturers and retailers.
Likewise, the Orang Asli communities and the environment will continue to feel the negative effects of indiscriminate deforestation for oil palm plantations.
Will ministers now take note?
Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.