27/05/2010 (Bernama), Port Klang - The government has put palm oil as one of the National Key Economic Areas to be given emphasis under the 10th Malaysia Plan, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok says.

The aim was to make the palm oil industry remain competitive and not to lose its momentum since it had become one of the country's export earners, he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a lease agreement between Cargill Palm Products Sdn Bhd and Port Klang Authority here on Thursday.

"We want to ensure the palm oil industry does not face obstacles. The ministry would assist the industry to remove the obstacles and in penetrating new markets while making the palm oil industry competitive," he said.

One of the obstacles, he said, was the negative campaign by certain non-governmental organisations (NGOs) overseas which claimed that the expansion of palm oil plantations had affected the livelihood of orang utans.

"The NGOs continue to mislead the consumers, and not many people in Europe has seen a palm oil tree or even orang utan," he said.

The Malaysian government, through its representatives in Washington, would also continue meeting American legislatures to explain to them the reality of the palm oil industry in order to combat the negative publicity given to the Malaysian golden crop.

He also said that hopefully, palm oil would be included in the ongoing trade negotiations between United States and Malaysia.

The 10th Malaysia Plan is expected to be unveiled on June 10.