24/05/2012 (Borneo Post) - State palm oil industry players should tap onto the power of social media to disseminate facts and information to ward off anti-palm oil campaigns.

Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing, who made the proposal yesterday, said journalists and experts from Europe and United States who visited the state recently spoke highly of the social media to help clarify and shine positive light on the industry.

The visit by the group of prominent economists, academicians and journalists was organised by Malaysian Palm Oil Council, and they made a stop at Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) estate and palm oil mill followed by a dialogue session with palm oil industry players.

“Because of their positive perception of the situation here, the group was requested to extend to their colleagues and friends our invitation for them to come over for similar visits.

“On their part, the members of the groups suggested that we may have to consider usage of social media/network, to disseminate facts and information on our development activities, especially concerning opening up of land for oil palm plantation, the management of our forest resources and measures being taken to protect and preserve the environment,” Masing said in his winding-speech yesterday.

He added that during and after the dialogue session, it was clear that the group members were impressed with the attention given to environmental protection and preservation.

“They also stated that the information they were exposed to before visiting the state was very different from what they had gathered from the visit.”