SHAH ALAM: Oil palm did not become into a miracle crop on its own.

It was the Barisan Nasional government’s vision and hard work over a span of 35 years that led to so many planters making it big now, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Oil palm, with its ready market, offered profitable returns as it now commanded high prices worldwide.

However, it was the vision of the Barisan government that saw oil palm's potential over 30 years ago and its policies that led to the development of the industry to what it was now, he said.

He said the Barisan government worked to get state governments to open up new land for plantations and small holdings, find new high-yield breeds through bodies like the Malaysian Palm Oil Board and Felda.

“The Barisan government decided in the 70s that this crop would shape the future of smallholders and we carried out research and promotions overseas.

“We also battled anti-palm oil campaigns to develop the industry and, this year, we expect oil palm exports to cross the RM5bil mark for the first time,” he said.

He was speaking at the award presentation for oil palm smallholders and plantation workers here yesterday.

At the function, Najib also received a mock cheque for RM1bil from various government-linked-companies as part of the corporate social responsibility initiative meant to improve the welfare of plantation workers.

The fund is to be used to provide housing, schools, clinics, roads and scholarships for estate workers and their children.
Najib said the good palm oil prices had drawn about 120,000 Felda settlers and another 120,000 smallholders and a big number of plantations into cultivating the crop that now provided jobs for thousands.

“So, on March 8, (polling day) think of the long-term effect when you cast your votes because policies by a government with good administration will bring you results like the ones you see here today,” he said.

He also said that the people should not be taken in by claims of prices of things going up if the Barisan won as the current RM2.50 per kg price for cooking oil was made possible through subsidies from the cooking oil cess that bigger producers were required to contribute to.

Speaking to reporters later, Najib said, he was confident Barisan would win a two-thirds majority victory after looking at response from the people and getting feedback from the candidates and the people.

source: The Star