KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 29 (Bernama) -- The allegation that oil palm planting has affected wildlife and the national forestry system has been described as an attempt to disrupt the oil palm industry by other edible oil producers.

Natural Resource and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid in refuting the allegation by certain foreign non-government organisations (NGOs) said "such allegations were motivated by an anti-oil palm and pro soya bean stand. They (the activists) are very sensitive about the natural habitat of the Orang Utan," he said.

He said the allegation was an attempt to bring down the palm oil industry which was strongly competing with the soya bean oil.

Azmi was referring to the statement by United Kingdom Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who said during a short meeting between the two, that wildlife habitat was being threatened by the clearing of jungle.

He was speaking to reporters after accompanying Prescott who was on a three-day working visit to Malaysia which started Saturday.

He said Malaysia had clear regulations on forestry and had several areas which had been gazetted as Permanent Forest Reserves meant for wildlife conservation.

"No logging is allowed in Permanent Forest Reserves which have been gazetted," he said.

Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei would create an area called the "The Heart of Borneo" in a continuous effort to conserve wildlife in Asia, he said, adding that this area would comprise two million hectares in which wildlife would be allowed to live in their natural environment.

"When the delegation was told about this effort, they (the delegation members) were amazed because the area nearly equalled the size of England."

Other issues raised in the discussion included furniture which was supposed to be made from illegally-logged timber.

Azmi explained that Malaysia had adopted a logo system which guaranteed that all furniture made in Malaysia and exported to Europe was not from illegal timber.

On illegal logging in the country, he said the problem was under control.

-- BERNAMA