25.02.2020 (The Borneo Post) - KOTA KINABALU: Despite rife speculation of changes in the federal government, it’s business as usual for Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok as she attended two events in the state.

Kok, who is DAP deputy secretary-general, attended a meeting with the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment yesterday morning.

Yesterday afternoon, she was on schedule to officiate the Kota Marudu Sustainable Oil Palm Growers Cooperatives (KPSM) Berhad’s collection centre at the Marudu community hall near here.

When met by reporters after a meeting with the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Kok said she was still a minister and had been in Sabah all day.

“We are focusing on this event (meeting), don’t worry, let them handle all matters that they need to attend to,” she said.

Kok has been in the state since Saturday to attend programmes organised by the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment in Tawau, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Marudu.

Meanwhile, she said the Love MY Palm Oil campaign will be expanded to all airports nationwide.

She said the campaign is aimed at promoting palm oil-based products as well as highlighting the government’s efforts in ensuring the sustainability of the Malaysian palm oil industry.

“The campaign will also help increase knowledge of the Malaysian palm oil and at the same time support the country’s tourism sector through eco-tourism,” she told reporters after launching the Love MY Palm Oil Campaign at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Kok said despite its numerous contributions to the country’s development, the industry had been continuously linked to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.

“The anti-palm oil campaign is carried out based on inaccurate facts about the palm oil industry.

“All of us know that palm oil is a major competitor to other types of vegetable oil including those from the European Union (EU) countries.

Palm oil has always become a ‘target’ because it is better in terms of productivity and versatility compared to other vegetable oils,” she added. — Bernama