KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Securities Fee has begun an investiga
KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s Securities Fee has begun an investigation into palm large Sime Darby Plantations, the corporate mentioned on Thursday, following a criticism by a non-government physique within the wake of a U.S. ban on imports over accusations of pressured labour.
Anti-trafficking group Liberty Shared has accused the world’s largest producer of sustainably-made palm oil of wrongful disclosures in its 2019 Sustainability Report, the agency mentioned in a press release.
“As a accountable company citizen listed on the Malaysian bourse, Sime Darby Plantations will cooperate absolutely with the Securities Fee,” it mentioned.
The Malaysian watchdog didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Nonetheless, it confirmed final month to Reuters that it had acquired a criticism, whereas declining to reveal particulars of a matter below evaluate.
In December, U.S. customs issued a ‘withhold launch order’ on the corporate, after Liberty Shared petitioned the U.S. Customs and Border Safety (CBP) final 12 months to ban Sime Darby merchandise, citing proof of labour abuse.
Sime Darby added that it has begun authorized motion this week in the US in opposition to Duncan Jepson, managing director of Liberty Shared.
“The aim of the proceedings is to acquire vital info pertaining to a criticism filed by Jepson with the Securities Fee of Malaysia,” Sime mentioned.
The criticism had accused the corporate of wrongful disclosures within the 2019 report, it added.
Such info from the criticism was vitally vital, Sime mentioned, including, “That is the primary time in SDP’s 200-year historical past that we have now resorted to taking authorized motion in opposition to an NGO.”
(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Enhancing by Clarence Fernandez)
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