The Felda Group has never exported products to the Israel through its subsidiaries including Felda-Iffco Sdn Bhd (FISB), said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan.

He said FISB only made product shipment to Palestine in 2010 and 2011 to fulfil orders in the local market via Ashdod port in Israel because there were no other ways to channel the shipments.

“All the products which consisted of bulk oil and edible oils were for shipping to Palestine,” he told a news conference at the Parliament lobby today.

He was commenting  on allegations hurled by Er Teck Hwa (DAP-Bakri) when debating the Royal Address, that Felda had exported palm oil to Israel.

Ahmad clarified that FISB started to make shipments to Palestine in March 2010 while the last one was done in Dec 9 last year with a trade value of around RM30 million.

According to him, an invoice dated January 2012 proved that FISB had made a shipment through the Gallia V.1201 vessel to the recipient, Ajjawi Commercial Stores Company, Jenin, Palestine via Ashdod port.

Ahmad said the sale of the products had export permits from the International Trade and Industry before any shipment were made.

“The sale of bulk oil and edible oils were on CIF (cost, insurance and freight) basis,” he said.

FISB,based in Pandaraman, Klang, is a joint venture between Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGCH) and IFFCO Group, a food processing company based in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

- Bernama