29.09.2018 (The Star Online) - A HEARTWARMING scene enfolded at the Kompleks Perdana Siswa Universiti Malaya’s (UM) foyer when a volunteer educated his friend and persuaded him to support the “Say Yes to Palm Oil” awareness campaign.

First-year UM actuarial science student Syahmi Rastam, 18, put his arm around his friend, third-year education course student Muhammad Irfan Mohd Nazir, 21, while eagerly explaining the advantages of using palm oil products.

His friend agreed to support the campaign held at the campus.Campaign organising committee head Md Nur Alif Narbawi Che Yahaya, 20, said 20 university students had volunteered in the campaign initiated by YouthsToday.

Md Nur Alif, a second-year accounting student and deejay at UMalaya Radio, UM campus’ radio station, said they supported the campaign to prevent Malaysians involved in the palm oil industry from losing their jobs.

“We also don’t want industry players to lose their earnings as they have been sponsoring some students to further their studies in the country.

“It is a win-win situation,” he said.

Besides that, Md Nur Alif said they hoped to see the oil palm industry continue their CSR works to help the needy.

“We are also planning to air the benefits of using palm oil on UMalaya Radio,” added Md Nur Alif.

YouthsToday management executive intern Dayang Noradibah Rosli said they wanted to reach out to UM students and staff as well as the public.

“We want to educate them that palm oil is a natural trans-fat free oil, non-GMO and one of the richest sources of vitamin E which supports brain and heart health,” she said.

On top of that, she said palm oil was perfect for cooking, even frying, as it is heat-resistant.

“It is also used in cosmetics, for beauty products such as lipsticks. It is an important component in bath soaps, hair shampoos, toothpaste and deodorant,” she said.

She added that it was being used in food products, inks and wall paint.

She hoped to encourage others to share a video available on Festival Konvokesyen Universiti Malaya’s Facebook page to show their support for the campaign.

The video highlights the benefits of using palm oil products, job opportunities for those in the industry and enhances rural lives while contributing to global food security and growing business opportunities with China.

“If the European Union bans the use of palm oil in biofuels by 2020, some 600,000 Malaysians will lose their jobs,” she added.

So far, the campaign has received encouraging response from locals and foreigners.

Dayang Noradibah said 300 students from a private college have also posted on Facebook about its video within two days of their campaign while another 150 university students have signed pledges to show their support.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/09/29/high-five-for-palm-oil-please/#r0KV6VgOMartU85M.99