Palm | Kelapa Sawit

KUALA LUMPUR: Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth (FOE), Wetlands International and World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) could play invaluable roles in highlighting environmental problems and promote public and corporate oversight.

But when these non-governmental organisations become biased and apply double standards in their whistleblowing, many begin to doubt their credibility.

"Public trust and integrity are the essence of any NGO should we want to stay true to our purpose and remain relevant in today's context," said Malaysian Nature Society president Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor.

"In the last decade, we've seen an increasing presence of foreign green NGOs in Southeast Asia. The objective of these foreign green and animal rights NGOs in setting up affiliates here is questionable," he told the New Straits Times in an interview here.

Examples include Amsterdam-based Friends of the Earth (FOE) giving financial support to Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Swiss-headquartered WWF funding anti-palm oil lobbyist Wetlands, which in turn contributes to Global Environment Centre, a non-profit organisation set up in Malaysia to support the protection of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources.

There is also the UK-based Oxfam International giving money to Indonesian NGO Sawit Watch that purports to "highlight the negative social and environmental impacts of oil palm".

Earlier this week, Malaysia's Registrar of Societies Datuk Mohd Alias Kalil warned that Sahabat Alam Malaysia would be deregistered if in the fight for its cause, it is proven to indulge in extremist acts that threatens the country's interests.

When asked to comment, Salleh said: "At Malaysian Nature Society, we cherish the right to speak up for the conservation of nature but we're certainly not an extremist group. In fact, we don't agree with Greenpeace, FOE, Wetlands, Sawit Watch and WWF's biased approach, specifically their anti-palm oil lobby."

"We're a green NGO but we do not lobby against select industries or seek representation at negotiating tables to set up trade barriers disguised as environmentally-friendly measures."

Salleh said the Malaysian Nature Society had, throughout its 70 years of existence, stuck to its core activities of expeditions and explorations into the deep jungles and caves to inculcate love for nature among its members. "As the oldest green NGO in Malaysia, we take pride in being transparent. We have never haboured any hidden agenda or ulterior motives. We publish all contributions and expenses in our annual reports. I can assure you every sen is accounted for," he said.

Today, it is an undisputable fact that financially strong NGOs like Rainforest Action Network (RAN), Greenpeace, FOE, Wetlands, Oxfam International and WWF wield great clout at international decision-making forums on global warming. One would expect that with great power, comes great responsibility.

But to date, it is unclear whether these NGOs have institutionalised external oversight of their decision-makings.

Are there independent audits to determine the effects of their policies and practices on the orang-utans and indigenous people they claim to be helping? These NGOs are whistleblowers, judge and jury, all roled into one -- a stark contrast to independent boards in corporations.

On the other hand, oil palm plantation companies, whether listed on the stock exchange or privately held are a responsible lot by virtue of the industry being tightly regulated. About 50 corporates involved in palm oil-related businesses are listed on Bursa Malaysia.

Related party transactions and profit/loss accounts are open to public and regulatory scrutiny. Every oil palm planter, miller, refiner, trader and cargo forwarder is subjected to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board's (MPOB) stringent regulation.

This means the government keeps tab of agricultural land planted with oil palm trees, quality of seedlings that are planted in the estates, how much palm oil is produced and how soon and the quality of oil shipped out. Every shipment is reported to MPOB within 24 hours. Those in the industry who do not comply face heavy penalties.
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Sahabat Alam at a loss over Registrar's warning
KUALA LUMPUR: Sahabat Alam Malaysia, an affiliate of Amsterdam-based Friends of the Earth, does not want to speculate on the motive behind the Registrar of Societies' warning about its possible deregistration.

Earlier this week, the Registrar of Societies (ROS), Datuk Mohd Alias Kalil warned that SAM can be deregistered as a non-governmental organisation if there is proof that it is involved in activities which threaten the nation's interests. Speaking from Miri, Alias said ROS is monitoring SAM closely and any other NGOs which acted extremely in their cause.

In a telephone interview from Penang yesterday, SAM secretary Meenakshi Raman said: "We don't know what motivated the ROS to give such warning. "We were caught by surprise when we saw it in the news. There was no official letter from ROS, so we shall wait and see."

Friends of the Earth and affiliates have in the last five years blamed the oil palm industry's rapid growth to deforestation and peatland degradation, which in turn is blamed for species extinction, worsening climate change and the displacement of indigenous people.

It lobbies for a moratorium on the conversion of forests and peat land into plantations be it oil palm, rubber or timber species.