Invest Sabah chairman Datuk Roger Chin (left) during the signing of SEASAF 2026 Declaration on the Establishment of the Southeast Asia Sustainable Avialtion Fuels Council here. - Pic courtesy of Invest Sabah Petra Seaga, a renewable energy and bioeconomy company, is evaluating a RM1.4 billion biorefinery project in Sabah, a senior official said. "Today, I wish to acknowledge the commitment expressed by Petra Seaga to establish a presence in Sabah and make a significant invest

About 90 per cent of estates in the palm oil sector have obtained the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, while independent smallholders have reached 85 per cent, said Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad. She said the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has provided full grant assistance to smallholders to enable them to obtain the certification. "The government is fully committed to meeting the requirements of the European Union De

Johor may be drawing billions in data centre investments, but its real high-income opportunity lies in palm oil waste estimated to be worth RM3.5 billion annually, said the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) Monitor founder. The JS-SEZ Monitor is an independent platform that tracks and provides analysis on developments related to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Its founder Nasser Ismail was formerly Iskandar Regional Development Authority strategic comm

Smallholders sharing a light moment at the diffusion programme. FOR over three decades, Siti Nor Hayati Ahmad Sekak worked on her 12-hectare oil palm farm in Kampung Tengah, Renggam, Kluang, using methods passed down from her parents — simple, time-tested and heavily dependent on instinct. "I used to focus only on harvesting. I never knew how to assess seed quality or manage fertiliser properly. Now, I understand how to get better yields and manage my workers more efficiently

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday it is sharpening its focus on oil palm, confident that expanded plantations in Mindanao in the southern Philippines can curb imports, raise farm incomes, and strengthen the country's edible oil supply, reported Xinhua. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said the government plans to significantly increase funding for the emerging sector in 2027 after this year's proposed 1 billion pesos (about US$17 million

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to remain a reliable supplier of sustainable palm oil to India. In this regard, Anwar and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi encouraged deeper collaboration in oil palm cultivation. According to a joint statement by the two countries, both sides also agreed for collaboration in value chain development of palm oil, including downstream, higher value-added palm-based products. “Both sides also agreed

The east African country of Kenya is set to elevate economic linkages with Malaysia through strategic partnerships in the halal industry. The east African country of Kenya is set to elevate economic linkages with Malaysia through strategic partnerships in the halal industry, palm oil and agro-processing, semi-conductors and renewable energy sectors which will boost trade, investments and regional market access. Kenya's High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ekitela Moru, said Malays

By Ir. Qua Kiat Seng Palm Oil in the Spotlight Palm oil is one of the most widely consumed edible oils in the world, yet it often finds itself at the center of controversy. Critics point to its saturated fat content, while supporters highlight its versatility, stability, affordability, and unique nutritional profile. With the release of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDG) 2025–2030, which emphasize whole foods, healthy fats, and reduced refined carbohydrates, pal

Dr Chong Siew Huay Indonesia’s decision to delay the implementation of the B50 biodiesel mandate presents Malaysia with a short-term opportunity to increase palm oil exports as the commodity’s price is kept stable by the move, according to an academic. Dr Chong Siew Huay, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), said the postponement means Indonesia will absorb less crude palm oil (CPO) domestically for biodiesel than orig

By Chan Thye Huat & Datin Lorela Chia Malaysia’s palm oil ecosystem now operates within an increasingly structured sustainability architecture. Certification regimes, traceability frameworks, carbon measurement systems, and assurance mechanisms form an integrated backbone across estates, mills, and downstream markets. As this architecture consolidates, a more operational question emerges: How should capacity be managed as sustainability systems scale? The constraint lies less

SD Guthrie Bhd, one of the world’s largest palm oil producers, on Tuesday warned that dry weather in Malaysia could curb its first-quarter production growth after a robust December quarter. Higher output in the December quarter pushed inventories in Malaysia, the world’s second-largest producer, to a near seven-year high at the end of 2025, weighing on prices. Slower production growth could help ease stockpiles and support benchmark Malaysian palm oil futures. SD Guthrie is p

The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is in discussions with ground vehicle operators and B20 biodiesel suppliers to blend B20 as part of efforts to expand its use at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) said it also intends to extend the B20 initiative to ground service vehicles at other airports, such as the Senai International Airport in Johor. “The expansion of B20 use for ground service vehicles at these airports d