ISLAMABAD – Malaysia may retaliate against a plan by the European Unionlink to curb palm oil use, bypurchasing new fighter jets from China instead of European arms companies,its leader said on Sunday, South China Monitoring Post has reported.
The Southeast Asian country is the world’s second-largest palm oil producerafter neighbouring Indonesia, and recently threatened to challenge thebloc’s plan to phase out its use in biofuels at the World TradeOrganisation (WTO).
Both Malaysia and Indonesia have been at loggerheads with EU lawmakers overthe crop’s cultivation, which has caused rampant deforestation anddestruction of wildlife.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. Photo: Xinhua
In his strongest statement yet on the proposed curbs, Malaysian PrimeMinister Mahathir Mohamadlink suggestedhis country could look elsewhere to upgrade its ageing air force fleet ofRussian MiG-29 fighters – in effect abandoning plans to purchase France’sRafale jet or the Eurofighter Typhoon.
“If they keep on taking action against us, we will think of buyingairplanes from China or any other country,” he was quoted as saying by theofficial Bernama news agency.
But the premier said he was not “declaring war” on the EU as his countryneeded goods from the bloc, many members of which are among Malaysialink top trading partners.
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Mahathir’s remarks come ahead of a five-day international defenceexhibition starting Monday on the resort island of Langkawi, whererepresentatives of global weapons manufacturers have gathered.
Any EU palm oil curbs could seriously hurt farmers who represent animportant voter base in both Malaysia and Indonesia.
Both countries are struggling to spur demand in palm oil, which is used ineverything from soap to chocolate.