Kuala lumpur: The government will expand the financing scope of the Countering Anti-Palm Oil Campaigns (CAPOC) programme in 2026 to enhance market access and increase exports to priority international markets, said the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin stated that part of the allocation will be used for initiatives to enhance market access and for Malaysia’s participation in major international trade exhibitions, including Gulfood, Food Ingredients Europe (FI Europe), and Food Ingredients India (FI India). He emphasized that these efforts are aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s presence on impactful platforms and supporting improved export performance.
Chan further explained that CAPOC’s primary focus is to improve global perceptions of Malaysian palm oil so that negative narratives do not weaken the country’s market position. This approach aims to enhance and widen market access through narrative influence at the buyer level, among stakeholders, and across credible international media platforms.
The Deputy Minister noted that this focus will be intensified next year through a market-access-driven strategy involving direct engagement with buyers and decision-makers, as well as the implementation of trade networking visits that combine market-awareness objectives with export empowerment. He highlighted that while the narrative on palm oil in 2025 was more focused on public education, the strategy for the upcoming year will be strengthened through collaboration with high-impact global media to influence perceptions via platforms popular with consumers, industry players, and international policymakers.
Responding to the use of a harvester known as ‘Lipan’ by Sarawak Plantation Bhd, Chan mentioned that the Ministry, through the Malaysian Plantation and Commodities Institute (IMPAC) in cooperation with Sarawak Plantation, has trained 15 local youths to operate the machine. This initiative aims to prepare them to adopt new technology in the palm oil sector, potentially providing job opportunities with attractive wages and creating a conducive and safe working environment for the youth involved.
Chan also addressed inquiries from Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PN-Dungun) regarding the kenaf sector, revealing that as of October 31, 2025, the total area planted with kenaf was 1,763.36 hectares, involving 735 smallholders and 12 entrepreneurs. The area planted for fibre production is 5,808.16 hectares, involving 426 smallholders and four entrepreneurs, while the area for seed production is 311.50 hectares, involving eight entrepreneurs. Additionally, there are kenaf crops for animal feed production covering 643.70 hectares, involving 201 smallholders.