LETTER | Govt-linked plantations main threat to orangutans

LETTER | Palm oil cultivation in the form of huge estates might not be the sole reason why the orangutan population in on the decline. But it must be admitted that it is the primary reason for the decline of the orangutan and other endangered species in the wild.

Sure there are other reasons but they are nothing compared to the impact of palm oil cultivation on the orangutan population in Sabah or elsewhere.

Given the rate of plantation expansion, it would be a miracle to rescue the endangered species from total annihilation.

There is no reason why Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has the habit of downplaying the impact of oil palm cultivation on the dwindling orangutan population.

Some months back, she made the ludicrous remark that the orangutans were a danger to human lives.

Now she is saying that it is the population growth of humans and not palm oil cultivation that has a negative impact on the orangutan.

Zuraida is the minister in charge of the promotion and marketing of primary commodities such as palm oil and others.

Recently, she was upset that the US government without knowing the truth of labour conditions in Malaysia took steps to ban the export of palm oil on the grounds of forced labour.

It is not that human beings are directly endangering the lives of orangutans but a certain segment that is keen on profits in the production and sale of palm oil. They are the ones clearing jungles at the terrible expense of the wildlife there.

Unbridled capitalist development in the form of plantation agriculture is the main culprit in endangering the existence and survival of the orangutan and other endangered species.

As long as human greed prevails, presently manifesting in the form of plantation agriculture, there is nothing to stop the orangutan from being wiped off the Earth.

Zuraida and other ministers lack empathy and concern for endangered species in the country.

Not all human beings are responsible for the endangerment of wildlife, but a tiny group of plantation agriculture capitalists who work closely with the agencies of the state in furthering their economic and financial interests in plantation agriculture.

Malaysia is too enmeshed with the interests of the plantation companies, especially government-linked ones, to stop the obnoxious encroachment of jungles.

Zuraida must understand that she cannot talk of saving the orangutan or other endangered species when she herself promotes the interests of plantation companies, especially those GLCs.

It is a matter of time given the unbridled expansion of plantation agriculture particularly in areas like Sabah and Sarawak, before the endangered species are completely wiped out of existence.

Sooner or later they will be extinct save for those who are located in national parks or animal sanctuaries.

Perhaps museums might be built here and there to capture the proud history of orangutans.

Maybe Zuraida can finally take credit for the full expansion of plantations without the hindrance of the orangutan’s presence.

It is an utter shame that the government with the mandate and responsibility to look after the endangered species might unwittingly contribute to their disappearance in the future.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.