InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA–General Secretary of Indonesian Palm Oil Associaition (IPOA), Togar Sitanggang said, the government should be strict to protect palm oil industry in this country. One thing to do is to continue the discussion of palm oil draft and officially legitimize it. “If the government cares about palm oil industries nationally, the discussion of palm oil draft should go on and immediately legitimate it,” he said in Jakarta, Monday.

He thought, Palm oil Draft would protect the domestic industries, namely from the black campaigns if it is legilimated. “The regulation could be one strongest weapon to fight for the negative campaigns,” he mentioned.

He even told, the government should be active to carry on the domestic industries, but not weaken by making one side policy. “The government should concern more about the industries,” he said, as quoted from beritasatu.com.

He even denied, if the regulation would be a profit for the corporate only. “This regulation is for the industrial interest. The palm oil draft is not only about corporate but also about the people’s area. There are smallholders, such as, independent, personal, transmigrants, and plasma ones,” he said.

He also claimed, the government should not obey the pressure from some people or groups. “If there are people, or non government organizations which press and stop the discussion of palm oil draft, it is not elegant. It is just the same with sacrifying the interest of many people,” he said.(T3)