TAIPING: Orangutan is often misguidedly used as a symbol in environmental campaigns to portray the palm oil industry as the main cause of deforestation, says Plantation and Commodities Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof.
Despite not rejecting the concern shown towards the plight of orangutans, he said the biased narrative surrounding it needs to be corrected.
"The orangutan should not be used as a tool to attack the palm sector. Instead, it stands as proof that a sustainable palm oil industry can be a strategic partner in protecting the environment,” he said in his speech during the World Orangutan Day 2025 celebrations at Pavilion Taiping Zoo and Night Safari today (Nov 1).
The chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) Board of Trustees said the celebration of World Orangutan Day is not merely a symbolic event, but a statement of Malaysia’s commitment to striking a balance between economic development and biodiversity conservation.
He added that MPOGCF, as a trust entity under the ministry, plays a crucial role in aligning the palm oil sector with conservation efforts.
Yusran said Malaysia has long introduced various sustainable policies and standards, including the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which mandates the protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) areas, controlled forest clearing and the restoration of wildlife corridors.
"Statistics show that more than 50% of orangutan habitats in Sabah and Sarawak are now located within protected areas.
"A large portion of conservation funding actually comes from the palm oil industry itself," he said.
Yusran also highlighted MPOGCF’s latest initiative, the Orangutan Diplomacy (OUDip) programme, which is an on-site conservation effort allowing orangutans to roam freely without threats from human activity, plantation operations or tourism.
“Recently, MPOGCF contributed RM20,000 to support the implementation of OUDip and proceeds from today’s Fun Walk ticket sales will also be channelled into the fund.
“I urge everyone, especially our partners in the palm oil and corporate sectors, to contribute to the OUDip fund to ensure the continuity of conservation efforts. Every contribution is an investment in safeguarding the nation’s natural heritage,” he said.
He added that this initiative aligns with the government’s Belanjawan Madani 2026 commitment to empower community ranger teams to protect forests and wildlife habitats, including orangutans.
