Kota Kinabalu: Upko on Sunday urged the relevant authorities to allow the transportation of palm oil products from private jetties in Sabah.
Upko Secretary-General Neslon W Angang said the party has received numerous calls, especially from smallholders, that palm oil were rotting away and even if they harvest it, nobody wants to buy.
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Hence, he said, private jetties should be allowed to operate so that millers could ship out their products.
“Upko had done several rounds of discussions with industry players and we are going to pursue the matter with the relevant authorities, especially the Trade and Industry Ministry (MTI),” he said.
“It is well and good that MTI is headed by our president, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau”.
Nelson said Upko feels for palm oil industry players.
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“We strongly believe we have to do everything within our power to help stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Upko hopes there will be a win-win solution soon,” he said in a statement, Sunday.
The Sabah Port Authority (SPA) circulated a letter dated April 17 on the closure of all private jetties in Sabah as a measure to fight the pandemic.
In a statement earlier Sunday, Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) Sabah said there are more than 16 private jetties operated by plantation companies in Sabah, specifically for shipments of fresh fruit bunches, crude palm oil and palm kernels from one point to another point of the supply chain.
MPOA said the jetties were not entry or exit jetties for use by people, but only dedicated for oil palm products.
“MPOA Sabah seek SPA and the relevant authorities for their kind consideration to allow these jetties to operate…we can continue in partnership to sustain our common and shared-destiny in fighting Covid-19 and boosting the economy of the State Government,” it said.
