MALIAU BASIN (SABAH): Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said certain western critics of Malaysia's oil palm industry were taking a narrow-minded view of the issue.
The Prime Minister said that they failed or ignored to look at the benefits of the oil palm industry for the citizens who were dependent on it for their livelihoods.
''They (critics) looked for narrow angles, they fail to understand that we have a responsibility to our people who depend on oil palm beyond small holders and companies.
''They are pointing fingers at us but, overall, compared to others we are doing better in sustainable development and preservation of the environment," he told reporters after launching the Maliau Basion Studies Centre.
He also launched the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project that is set to become the world largest ecological experiment.
The 10-year study costing RM30mil is being sponsored by Sime Darby and undertaken by the Royal Society's South East Asia Rainforest Research Programme.
Najib explained that Malaysia had a policy of development where certain areas were allocated for plantations, industries and timber, among others, while other areas were preserved sucha as in Maliau Basin and Danum Valley.
''We also have many forest reserves and water catchment areas," he said, adding that he agreed with Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam that the western world had wiped out their forests much earlier and were now pointing fingers at Malaysia for issues related to eco-systems.
''They must understand that we need revenues for the benefit of the people," he said in stressing that Malaysia maintained over 50% in forest cover of its total area.
Earlier in his speech, he said the SAFE project was important as it was in line with Malaysia's commitment to conservation and would help address many issues the world was facing, namely climate change as a result of deforestation.
"This project will make a major contribution to understanding how biodiversity can be protected and maintained in our plantations," he said
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