7/7/06 (The Edge News)   - Tawau: Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Karim Bujang urged operators involved in the palm oil industry to formulate ways and means to reduce pollution to safeguard the environment.

Incidences of pollution with elements of a destructive nature released to the environment have become increasingly serious and should be addressed immediately, he said.

He pointed out that the Government had taken the necessary measures to safeguard the environment, including creating a wildlife corridor, to protect the habitats having various biological diversities in areas adjacent to the oil palm plantations, as well as riparian reserves.

In this respect, the plantation operators should ensure contribution to an environment-friendly atmosphere, he said.

He was speaking to reporters after opening a seminar on "Sustainable Development in Palm Oil Industry: Towards a More Environmental Friendly Industry" at Hotel Marco Polo, here, Thursday.

Therefore, the operators must be obliged to comply with specific regulations to safeguard the environment by helping to preserve the quality of water that is important to riverine villagers, he said.

Karim also wanted the operators to consider using an alternative measure of ridding the waste from the plantations.

Citing an example, he said certain countries had been recycling factory wastes by using boilers that could be re-utilised for many purposes, including drinking water.

In this context, this should prompt the plantation operators to consider recycling wastes for their own benefits, he said.

Karim later presented factory licences to the plantation operators. The programme was jointly organised by the Federal Environment Department, Science and Technology Unit and Chief Minister's Department.