KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 10): The Dayak Oil Palm Planters Association (Doppa) has called for the establishment of a palm oil governing body in Sarawak, as part of its 2025 Sarawak Budget wishlist, according to a report by Borneo Post. 

The 2025 Sarawak Budget is up for tabling in the State Legislative Assembly meeting on Monday (Nov 11). 

According to the report, Doppa president Napoleon R Ningkos said that Sarawak should have a specific agency to regulate and monitor all of the sector’s activities in the state, on account that the state has the largest oil palm plantation area in the country. 

The report cited Napoleon in a statement, that such an agency is necessary as a body that addresses various problems related to the industry in Sarawak, especially land issues that are far different from those in Peninsular Malaysia.

Ït can monitor native customary rights (NCR) land development in a more organised way. 

It can also play a role in channeling the incentives given by the federal or state government, and also as a platform to promote Sarawak’s palm oil to the global market,” added the statement by Doppa. 

The statement also said that a palm oil governing body for Sarawak is important in countering all “baseless accusations hurled against the industry”, which hurts the independent smallholders, noted the report. 

In view of the oil palm sector being a stable source of income for many rural communities, Napoleon was quoted saying that he hopes the 2025 Sarawak Budget would be more people-friendly, and would line up the means and measures in tackling various issues and problems.