Prabowo wants more oil palm plantations

Environmental impact: A file photo of land being cleared for oil palm in a wildlife reserve in South Aceh, Indonesia. The country had faced international pressure previously to limit deforestation and loss of biodiversity. — AFP

Jakarta: President Prabowo Subianto says Indonesia should develop more palm oil plantations and should not be concerned about deforestation accusations from other countries.

He urged all governors, regents, government officials, police and military personnel to safeguard the country’s oil palm plantations, saying they were key national assets.