(MY) Show concern for environs

[Guest guest]

Letters - New Straits Times

 

Show concern for environs

P. KESAVAN Education and Research Association for Consumers Malaysia

 

Oct 24:

--

 

THE campaign by the Borneo Orang Utan Survival Foundation UK and

Nature Alert against oil palm (NST, Oct 15) is another chapter in the

long history of the dissatisfaction of environmental non-governmental

organisations with the way companies in Malaysia and Indonesia

approach the issue of oil palm production.

Forest burning in Sumatra and the displacement of natives in Sarawak

have been of no help to the industry.

 

Just highlighting the goodness of palm oil is not going to make these

firms friends in the West. The way to get good publicity is to show

concern for the environment and local communities.

 

Many Western companies set up charitable foundations to give some of

their profits back to the community for projects such as the

protection of the environment, wildlife, education, community service

and other programmes to get goodwill from the public.

 

The industry should do the same and show it is concerned about the

problems caused by its activities.