Palm Oil industry in Malaysia. Is it sustainable ?

 - Most of us cook our food using vegetable oil where the source mainly comes from palm oil, soy based & rapeseed.

- Malaysia and Indonesia are the top two world largest palm oil producers accounting for 85% or 42 million tonnes of the total world production last year

- According to the latest report:  "Malaysia is expected to run out of suitable land for new oil palm plantations in the next three to four years, while Indonesia will have another 10 to 12 years for the crop's acreage expansion"

- The palm tree in only plantable within the equator band

- With mature palm trees in Malaysia today will also reduce production level. Replanting is costly and will take time to get reach the optimum yield.

- In the context of sustainability of this industry: People, Planet and Prosperity, SD raises the following concern:

PEOPLE: Will we have enough fruit harvesters in our local plantation given the fact that majority of the plantation workers are Indonesians?

PLANET: Will we focus on Replanting or expansion growth outside Malaysia ?

PROSPERITY: The industry contributes at least 5 % of National GDP and employs more than 1.4 million people in the industry.  Should we now make a concerted effort in terms of moving up the value chain (e.g. downstream business & biofuel) in the industry.  This is all about the concept of having less (land) and getting more (value).  

Start ACTING now or we will be having more olive oil in our local delicacies instead :)

Dear FUTURE YAB Prime Minister,

To all Under 21 Year Old Malaysians,

The GENERAL ELECTION in MALAYSIA will happen very soon (at least that's what we are predicting at SDMalaysia ). As a responsible RAKYAT, you need to play your role to choose the future Government that will run our beloved country. BUT it doesn't stop there !

SDMALAYSIA knows that while government come and go, the RAKYAT should put in place a Government that looks into the well being of the country in the next General Election. By that, we would want a government that develops the country in a sustainable manner and consider the well being of the future generation.

Unfortunately, the law states that eligible voters in Malaysia must be above 21 year old. Ironically, it is the age group below 21 year old that will play the most important role to drive the country by 2020, the year when we aim to reach a developed state.

SDMALAYSIA is thinking outside the box and offering the voice of the future generation to be heard by the potential Wakil Rakyats. Here, we are offering Malaysians Under 21 Year Old of age to send us a letter to the  FUTURE PRIME MINISTER.

Your letter should in such a way express your hope on how the country should be run by the elected Government. We will choose the best letter and publish this in our blog.

You will start your letter with the intro: Salam YAB Prime Minister,
For the rest, we will let your creative juice flow........


As an incentive, SDMALAYSIA will post the best letter and reward RM 100/- cash to the individual. For all you know, this is the platform for you to meet the future PM himself :)

If you want to have your say in shaping the country; start writing the letter and send it to: Gmuitnys@gmail.com . Kindly include your name and Date of Birth for our reference.

Happy writing :)