13.06.2019 (The Malaysian Insight) - MALAYSIA’S very own trade war is in fighting the Western anti-palm oil campaign, and we fight them abroad and at home. At the home front, the Love MY Palm Oil campaign attempts to create awareness and educate the people on the health benefits of palm oil that is rich in beta-carotene and good quality vitamin E, but the effort is not enough. Victory at home can only be determined when the imported canola, soya and corn oils that are currently gaining preference status be relegated and driven from the shelves of retail outlets.

So long as the populace perceives the high laden saturated fat in palm oil as detrimental to health, efforts at the home front will be futile. The problem lies with lack of effective communication of the latest scientific discoveries and knowledge and translating them into simple language that lay people can understand. This is where the role of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is found wanting.