Dr Mahathir Mohamad has highlighted Malaysia's objection over attempts to ban the import of palm oil at the United Nations (UN), saying it is a classic case of the denial of free trade.
Speaking at the General Debate of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Malaysian prime minister made his case against such move, stating that palm oil was still a big contributor to the country's economy.
Underscoring that Malaysia was as concerned about the environment as the Europeans, the prime minister pointed out that the country’s forest cover currently stood at 55.3 percent, exceeding the pledge it made at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to maintain at least 50 per cent of landmass under forest cover.
