The Star Online (27/01/2018) - KLUANG: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein (pic) on Saturday said that he would raise the issue involving European Union (EU) resolutions on palm oil during his meeting with his French counterpart next Monday.

He said even though the issue had nothing to do with the national defence industry, the good relationship between Malaysia and France in the defence industry and investment should be put to maximum use to get France's clarification and stand on the issue.

"This is an agenda that people may think has nothing to do with defence, but if we are to invest on assets and to buy assets from France, we are going to use this to ask them to sincerely help us in other aspects," he told a press conference after officiating the ground breaking ceremony for the fifth phase of Sekolah Agama Kerajaan Johor (SAKJ) Taman Sri Lambak and Paloh 2 project, here Saturday (Jan 27).

The minister said this when asked about his meeting with the newly appointed French Minister of Defence Florence Parly scheduled to be held at Wisma Pertahanan, Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Earlier this year, the EU Parliament passed two resolutions – to impose a single certified sustainable palm oil (CSPO) scheme for Europe-bound palm oil exports after 2020 and to phase out palm oil from the EU biofuel programme by 2020.

This follows claims that palm oil producers have failed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which includes responsible consumption, production and climate action.

The resolutions would threaten the livelihoods of 650,000 smallholders and over 3.2 million Malaysians who rely on the palm oil industry, according to industry group the Malaysian Palm Oil Council. - Bernama