17/12/2012 (Bernama) - Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said the government will continue to focus on the upstream and downstream industries for oil palm to ensure the commodity continues to be a major contributor to the country's economy.

He said based on the large area of oil palm cultivation in Malaysia of five million hectares out of the 6.6 million hectares for agriculture, the focus on the upstream and downstream industries as such, was important.

According to Dompok, in the upstream stage, his ministry was actively assisting farmers in the replanting of oil palm tress which were old with new clones, while encouraging good farming practices to enhance productivity.

Dompok, who is also the President of then United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), told this to reporters after the Upko Tawau Division meeting here Saturday.

In this regard, he said companies keen on pioneering research into oil-palm and rubber-based products, are encouraged to forward their proposals for discussion at the monthly meeting of the Steering Committee of the National Key Results Areas (NKRAs)for oil palm and rubber.