Malaysia plans to present orangutans to nations importing its palm oil, seeking to address concerns about the commodity's association with the destruction of the endangered apes' habitats.

Malaysia has announced its intention to showcase orangutans to key palm oil-importing nations as part of efforts to enhance its standing as a biodiversity conservator. As the world's second-largest producer of this extensively utilized commodity, Malaysia faces criticism from environmentalists who attribute the industry's expansion to the depletion of orangutan habitats in Malaysia and Indonesia.

This initiative follows the European Union's decision last year to phase out commodities, including palm oil, associated with deforestation by 2030. Malaysia contends that the ban serves to safeguard the bloc's oilseeds market.

Malaysia's Minister of Commodities, Johari Abdul Ghani, revealed that the strategy would involve presenting orangutans to trade partners such as the EU, India, and China, all major importers of palm oil for various products ranging from food to cosmetics.

On the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Johari stated late on Tuesday, "This will demonstrate to the global community that Malaysia is dedicated to biodiversity conservation."

He further emphasized, "Malaysia cannot adopt a defensive stance on the palm oil issue. Instead, we must show the world that Malaysia is a sustainable oil palm producer committed to preserving forests and ensuring environmental sustainability."

The minister compared the plan to China's "panda diplomacy," where the Chinese government has historically sent giant pandas to other nations as a diplomatic gesture.

Under the current arrangement, China typically loans pandas to foreign zoos, with any offspring usually returned within a few years of birth to participate in the country's breeding program.

Palm oil finds its way into a diverse array of products, including pizza and various food items, as well as cosmetics like lipsticks, soaps, and shampoos.

However, according to the conservation organization WWF, the extensive production of palm oil on large plantations has significantly contributed to the loss of orangutan habitats in both Malaysia and Indonesia, the primary exporter of the commodity.

Consequently, orangutans are now critically endangered, with a population of fewer than 105,000 in Malaysian Borneo in 2012, as reported by the WWF.

On its website, the WWF warns that without effective measures to protect the animal, this number is expected to plummet further to 47,000 by 2025.