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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) urged anyone who has evidence of criminal or illicit activity regarding violations and abuses in oil palm plantations to submit pertinent reports to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
The Associated Press (AP) report on Nov. 18 entitled “Rape, Abuse in Palm Oil Fields Linked to Major Cosmetic Brands” recently called attention to serious allegations of abuse against women employed or associated with the industry of palm oil.
MPOC Executive Director (CEO) Datuk Kalyana Sundram said the perpetrators should immediately cooperate with Malaysian authorities or through an appropriate independent non-governmental association by sharing exact evidence so that these allegations can be fully investigated.
“If the motive of the authors of the AP report is to do justice to the alleged victims, they must step forward. Withholding or silencing such evidence does not help the victims, nor the industry and, above all, it will impede justice, ”he said in a statement.
He also emphasized that the council took these allegations very seriously, as they are criminal in nature and must be subject to our penal code of justice.
“Malaysia will not tolerate such criminal acts nor will it tolerate any misuse or abuse of any employee, especially women,” he said.
Kalyana said that if a step is not taken no action will be taken as the Malaysian authorities stated that they have not received any reports of such abuse, meaning they cannot take legal action unless the complaints are officially filed.
Meanwhile, MPOA CEO Datuk Nageeb Wahab said reporting the illegal activity is an important first step that must be taken, if the allegations have any basis in fact.
“The way to achieve this goal would be to work together honestly, openly and sincerely,” he said in a statement.
Nageeb said that the radical accusations made in the article paint a picture of life on Malaysia’s palm oil plantations that is clearly exaggerated and that the propaganda material with the writers has gone to great lengths to perpetuate their narrative and create the impression that such abuse is endemic. when in reality such acts of violence, oppression and harassment are isolated events. -Called
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