Environmental groups file petition to trigger referendum on Malaysia trade pact

The Alliance against Rainforest Deforestation, joined by the SP and the Greens, has handed in a petition calling for a referendum on the recently ratified EFTA-Malaysia free-trade agreement. Opponents of the deal warn that lower customs duties on palm oil will encourage the conversion of rainforest into oil-palm plantations, threatening both the environment and the rights of local people. They point to documented cases of forced displacement and violations of international labor standards on such estates.

The trade pact, which received parliamentary approval in June, links the EU with Malaysia under the European Free Trade Association framework, alongside Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The coalition says it will now focus on the campaign to secure the referendum, which, if approved, could lead to a popular vote by the middle of 2027.