InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA — Indonesian lawmaker Firman Soebagyo has called on the government to adopt a more assertive international strategy to counter global disinformation campaigns targeting Indonesian palm oil.

Speaking on Friday (2/1/2026), Firman said Indonesia must move beyond defensive narratives and instead promote fact-based arguments that protect national interests and smallholder livelihoods.

“Indonesia should not keep asking for understanding. We must speak firmly, backed by data,” said Firman, a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission IV.

He argued that negative campaigns against palm oil are often driven by economic interests and trade protectionism, particularly in Europe, rather than genuine environmental concerns.

Firman pointed out that accusations linking palm oil exclusively to deforestation and human rights violations often ignore comparative land-use data with other oil crops such as soybeans, rapeseed, and sunflower.

Indonesia, he said, has implemented concrete sustainability measures, including Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification, a moratorium on new permits, and improved governance transparency.

“Indonesia and Malaysia have moved toward sustainable palm oil. This fact is often ignored by critics,” he said, adding that well-managed palm plantations can contribute to carbon sequestration and improved land use.

“What we must fight is not palm oil, but bad practices,” Firman concluded. (T2)