UPKO: ALLOW PRIVATE JETTIES TO OPERATE

KOTA KINABALU: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) today urges the relevant authorities to allow the transportation of palm oil products from private jetties in Sabah.

“We have received numerous calls, and especially from smallholders. Their palm oil are rotting away because even if they harvest it, nobody wants to buy it. The private jetties must be allowed to operate so that the millers could ship out their products,” said Nelson W Angang (picture).

“UPKO had done several rounds of discussions among us and the industry players; we are going to pursue the matter with the relevant authorities especially the Ministry of Trade and Industry,” he said adding, “It is well and good that MTI is headed by our UPKO president.”

Nelson, the UPKO secretary general, said, “UPKO feels for palm oil industry players; UPKO also strongly believe we have to do everything within our power to help stop the spread of the corona virus COVID-19 pandemic. UPKO hopes there will be a win-win solution soon.”

The Sabah Port Authority (SPA) circulated a letter, dated 17 April 2020, on the closure of all private jetties in Sabah as a measure to fight the pandemic.

In a statement earlier today, the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) Sabah said there are more than 16 private jetties operated by the plantation companies in Sabah specifically for shipments of fresh fruit bunches (FFB), crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernels (PK) from one point to another point of the supply chain.

MPOA said the jetties were not entry or exit jetties for use by people, but only dedicated for oil palm products.

“MPOA Sabah seek the SPA’s and relevant authorities for their kind consideration to allow these jetties to operate… we can continue in partnership to sustain our common and shared-destiny in fighting COVID-19 and boosting the economy of the State Government,” it said. /BERITASABAH