Alleged malpractices: Migros wants the truth from IOI
By Patrick Lee, Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: Swiss supermarket chain Migros will meet with Malaysian palm oil company IOI Group regarding a series of alleged malpractices in Borneo.
First raised by the Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), it was believed that IOI was involved in a series of illegal rainforest clearances and also in land rights disputes with the indigenous Sarawakian natives.
“Migros will not boycott IOI Group as a supplier or raise a complaint against the IOI Group,” said Migros spokesperson Monika Weibel. “It will not do so without clarifying the situation and searching for a solution in a bilateral way.”
Migros told FMT that it will engage an IOI representative in a Zurich meeting, along with several NGOs.
Migros also stated that it had been in contact with IOI in recent weeks, although none of these have been face-to-face.
The action comes less than two weeks after the Swiss supermarket announced its intention to lodge a formal complaint against IOI Group.
“We will confront IOI directly with the allegations made by the BMF,” Monika stated. “Should these charges be true, we will take the necessary steps.”
Worst-case scenario
Earlier this year, the Miri High Court declared four natives the winner in a class action suit against the Sarawak government, Land Custody and Development Authority and IOI Pelita Plantation Sdn Bhd.
