InfoSAWIT, BOGOR – According to the audit result of Badan Pengawasan Keuangan dan Pembangunan (BPKP), about 3,3 million hectaers (ha) palm oil plantations in forest areas. This is a form of criminal.

But the publication of Undang-Undang Cipta Kerja (UUCK) in Chapter 110A and 110B, and the derivative policy delivered ‘mercy’ for palm oil plantations in forest areas by applying sanction mechanism or administrative fine only. About palm oil plantations in forest areas, Coordinator Minister in Maritime and Investment, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan said that such plantations would be bleached. “What to do? Should we cut off the trees? Use your logics. We have to bleach,” Pandjaitan said.

Executive Director of Sawit Watch, Achmad Surambo said that palm oil in fores area – issue has been existing for too long and it happens until now.

The solution started since the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to President Joko Widodo by publishing some regulations, such as, Government’s Regulation (GR) Number 60/2012, GR Number 104 / 2015, President’s Instruction Number 8 / 2018 until UUCK and its derivative policy.

“The government is trying to have ‘mercy’ in palm oil case. This is bad to improve palm oil plantation governance. ‘Mercy’ ignores criminal process by only delivering sanction in the form of administrative fine for new planting in forest areas,” he said as in the official statement to InfoSAWIT, Tuesday (27/6/2023).

He also told this is the shortcut only to solve the issue. Applying UUCK as the legal would potentially raise issues, “UUCK is in process to judicial review in the Constitutional Court and would raise new issues,” Surambo said. (T2)