During talks with IndonesianPresident Joko Widodo on June 29, Mahathir said he could not accept the EU’sargument that oil palm cultivation leads to deforestation, adding that the EU’sposition on deforestation is unreasonable and both countries need to fightagainst such policy.
He said that Europe no longerhas many forest-covered areas as most of its trees have been cut down.
According to him, the real reason behind palm oil import ban is thatEuropean countries are unable to compete with Malaysia and Indonesia in thefield.
Talking with the press, Mahathir said President Widodo has agreed towork closely with Malaysia to hitback at the European smear campaign.-VNA