MP wants debate on palm oil deal with Israel

KUALA LUMPUR: A DAP MP has demanded an emergency debate over Malaysia’s alleged palm oil export to Israel.

Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa filed the emergency motion to do so in Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia’s chambers this morning.

Er based his request on a claim which he made in the House on March 21 where he accused Felda of the Israel export.

“My speech (on that day)…was an extension of what I raised in Parliament on Oct 17.
“…several Customs documents have shown that there have been export trade transactions with companies based in Israel,” he wrote in his letter to the Speaker.

Er said that it was confusing that Malaysia would have trade relations with Israel, especially since it was helping the Palestinian cause at the same time.

He said that since Malaysia did not have any diplomatic relations with Israel, trading with the state was in violation of the Customs Prohibition of Imports/Export Order 2008.

Last Wednesday, Er accused Felda of exporting palm oil to Israel. This claim was vehemently denied by Barisan Nasional MPs.

(In Er’s letter to the Speaker this morning, the DAP MP did not expressly mention Felda.)
Pasir Salak MP (Umno) Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was especially angry with Er’s implication that Felcra – of which Tajuddin is also chairman of – as being part of the Israel-palm oil deal.

Later on, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department denied that Malaysia was supplying palm oil to Israel.