Over 30,000 Sabah Smallholders Have Achieve MSPO Certification - Hajiji
KOTA KINABALU, Aug 21 (Bernama) – Over 30,000 smallholders in Sabah, covering more than 191,000 hectares, have achieved the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification as of April 2025, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
This represents a certification rate of 97.62 per cent, one of the highest nationwide, he said.
This underscores collective progress and emphasises the importance of continued collaboration between government agencies, industry players, and smallholders to sustain and expand sustainable palm oil production, he said.
Hajiji said it is crucial for Malaysia to advance its certification and traceability efforts to maintain its continued recognition and credibility among key stakeholders, domestically and internationally, amid the global pressure for deforestation-free supply chains.
"In Sabah, we are making progress where about 97 per cent of the planted area and over 92 per cent in Sarawak are now certified under the MSPO. However, we must push toward 100 per cent inclusion, particularly for independent smallholders.
"We are fully cognisant of the challenges the industry faces. Meeting evolving global standards, ensuring environmental integrity, and responding to market pressures demand proactive and innovative action," he said in his speech which was read by Sabah Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe at the East Malaysia Palm Oil Forum here today.
Hajiji said the Sabah government has adopted a transformative solution known as the Jurisdictional Approach for Sustainable Palm Oil, launched in 2015, to achieve 100 per cent certified sustainable palm oil production across the state by 2030.
This approach is more than administrative in nature. It is also a governance mechanism that allows all players in the palm oil value chain to work together under a unified framework.
"It aligns Sabah's ambitions with national and international standards such as MSPO, RSPO, and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), and ensures that no stakeholder is left behind, especially smallholders, who account for over 27 per cent of Sabah's production," he explained.
Hajiji said Sabah has sustained its leadership with 1.48 million hectares under cultivation and annual output surpassing 4.2 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO).
Sabah and Sarawak combined account for over 55 per cent of the country's total oil palm planted areas, which help shape Malaysia as the world's second-largest palm oil producer and a leading source of a sustainable and responsibly managed supply chain.
Hijiji said this success did not happen overnight, but is the result of decades of hard work, resilience and collaboration across the supply chain from smallholders, millers, refiners to traders, researchers, and policymakers.
"It is a testament to our shared commitment to balance economic development with environmental stewardship and social progress," he said, adding that it was not just about hectares and tonnage, but a story of lives being changed.
The palm oil industry directly and indirectly sustains the livelihoods of more than 300,000 Malaysians and supports over 85,000 smallholders.
"Beyond economic figures, it has reshaped the rural landscape, bringing with it the vital infrastructure, from improved roads and schools to clinics and digital connectivity. Where opportunity was once scarce, there is now progress, and the promise of a better future," he said.
The Chief Minister is confident that the industry will continue to thrive and build a future-ready palm oil sector that benefits Malaysia but the world via strategic investment, strong governance, and continued engagement with stakeholders.
-- BERNAMA