20/11/2014 (The Star) - An opposition MP has suggested that the Government provides a bigger allocation for programmes to defend the palm oil industry besides activities to promote the commodity.

Kelana Jaya PKR MP Wong Chen said it was important that adequate allocation is provided in order to protect one of the country’s largest exports.

He said the significant budget cut for palm oil protection will damage the industry further, especially in light of the recent drop in exports.

“For 2015, the budget to counter the anti-palm oil campaigns has been cut from RM16mil in 2014 to RM10mil,” he said yesterday.

He said the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, the body responsible for the promotion and development of the industry has also seen a budget cut from RM25mil to RM14.5mil.

“We are not asking the Govern-ment to spend more money unnecessarily but if you have to promote palm oil, you have to promote with real policy and real spending.

“Palm oil is a renewable income, it contributes to the single biggest national income for Malaysia. When our oil and gas resources run out, palm oil will hold the nation together,” he said.

He suggested that the government allocate RM200mil a year to protect the industry.