IPOH, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- All Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad’s (KLK) upstream operations (its supplying estates and palm oil mills) in Malaysia have been certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards as at end of December 2017, a year ahead of the mandatory timeline for producers that already have Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certifications.

In line with the Company’s commitment to create sustainable stakeholders’ values by integrating environmental and societal concerns into its business strategies and performance, KLK had been progressively undergoing the MSPO certification process since mid of 2017. Other certification standards for palm oil that KLK has committed to include RSPO, Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) and International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) in which all serve to provide reliable assurance to stakeholders that the Company’s products are produced ethically and responsibly, with the necessary safeguards put in place to mitigate risks.

“We are pleased that we are able to achieve this feat in a short span of 6 months, it's our people in each operating centre who make the difference and I appreciate the concerted efforts and commitments of all parties involved to continuously upholding the good agricultural practices as well as the sustainability practices,” said Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian, Chief Executive Officer of KLK.

''We would like to congratulate KLK for achieving 100% certification of its oil palm plantations and mills under MSPO Certification. With this achievement, KLK becomes one of the few oil palm companies to have reached this important milestone. We would like to sincerely thank the management of KLK for the support and commitment towards the implementation of MSPO certification. We strongly believe that this serves as a huge motivation for Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) to further strengthen and implement the MSPO Certification Scheme in cooperation and collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders in Malaysia. We hope that other large oil palm companies will match KLK's effort and commitment, and obtain certification as soon as possible before the mandatory implementation of MSPO certification by December 2019," shared by MPOCC.

The MSPO standards provides general principles for the implementation, establishment and improvement of the operational practices of a sustainability system incorporated in Malaysia to ensure the sustainability of palm oil. This certification standard currently covers the oil palm industry supply chain comprising independent and organised smallholders, plantations and POMs. It also includes grouping smallholders into Sustainable Palm Oil Clusters (SPOC) or other group management systems. Certification of palm kernel crushers, refineries and palm biomass and biofuel plants will be implemented once the standards are ready.

About Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad
Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (“KLK”), a company incorporated in Malaysia, is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad with a market capitalisation of approximately RM26.6 billion at end of December 2017. Started as a plantation company more than 100 years ago, plantations (oil palm and rubber) still lead as KLK’s core business activity. Through various strategic acquisitions and sound management, the Group’s plantation land bank now stands close to 270,000 hectares spread across Malaysia (Peninsular and Sabah), Indonesia (Belitung Island, Sumatra, central and east Kalimantan) and Liberia. The Group had also diversified into resource-based manufacturing (oleochemicals, derivatives and specialty chemicals) and property development.

Source : Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name : Lim Poh Poh
Head, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Tel : 05-240 8056 (direct line) / 019-577 4919
Email : pp.lim@klk.com.my

Name : Lee Wei Yan
Corporate Communications
Tel : 05-240 8153 (direct line) / 016-599 2131
Email : wy.lee@klk.com.my

--BERNAMA