Palm oil: Malaysia launches investigation into school for putting on ‘propaganda’ play about deforestation

A video circulating online showed primary school pupils speaking about the environmental destruction caused by unsustainable palm oil cultivation

The Education Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it would not allow ‘indoctrination’ that tarnishes the image and name of the country

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A farmer inspects his palm oil seeds. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:54pm, 3 Jul 2019Updated: 10:19am, 4 Jul 2019

An international school in Malaysia has become the latest target in the country’s crusade to promote its palm oil exports, with the government announcing it will launch an investigation after students there staged a play about deforestation and the negative environmental impact of palm oil cultivation.

A video circulating online earlier in the week showed what appeared to be primary school pupils speaking on stage about the destruction caused by unsustainable palm oil cultivation, and linking the practice to the disappearance of orangutans. “If we don’t do something about this … these beautiful creatures will be gone forever,” a slide show seen in the background said.

A still from the video of the anti-palm oil play that circulated online earlier in the week. Photo: YouTube

The Education Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it would not allow any “propaganda and indoctrination in private institutions that tarnish the image and name of the country”.

On Tuesday, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok urged the school to “stop actions sowing anti-palm oil sentiment”, comparing it to the European Union’s move to phase out palm oil imports.

“I received a clip on social media of an international school in Kuala Lumpur that held a student performance on the negative impact of cultivating palm oil and tied it to deforestation and felling trees. I call for the principal and teachers involved to come forward,” Kok told reporters, saying her ministry would be willing to help them understand efforts made to improve the industry. “They are doing a disservice to the country.”