Plantation and commodities minister Johari Ghani said this will entail giving away orangutans as gifts to trading partners, particularly major importing nations such as the European Union, India and China, to forge closer ties with them.

He said this is necessary in the face of rising global concerns about the environmental impact of agricultural commodities, Bernama reported today.

Based on this principle, he said, Malaysia intends to introduce the “orangutan diplomacy” to palm oil trading nations, Johari said in a post on his X account.

“In adopting the policy, we aim to demonstrate Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to biodiversity conservation,” he added.

His comments came on the heels of his participation in the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation’s Biodiversity Forum yesterday.

China has long used the giant panda, the bamboo-eating mammal with its iconic black patches on white fur, to further its foreign policy objectives.

There are an estimated 1,860 giant pandas left in the wild today, according to environmental group WWF, and another 600 in captivity in panda centres, zoos and wildlife parks worldwide.

The orangutan, a member of the great ape family, is also an endangered species.

There are just over 70,000 orangutans left in the wild. Of the three species of the mammal, the Bornean orangutan accounts for 57,000 of them.

Johari said Malaysia cannot afford to adopt a defensive stance on palm oil.

He said the country must stamp its status as a sustainable palm oil producer committed to forest conservation and environmental sustainability.

“Major palm oil producing companies are encouraged to collaborate with non-governmental organisations to oversee, preserve and raise awareness about our iconic wildlife species to our global partners while also offering technical expertise,” he said.

Johari added that the initiative will exemplify Malaysia’s dedication to preserving wildlife species and ensuring the sustainability of its forests, particularly within the palm oil cultivation areas.