'We Are Too Small To Retaliate': Malaysia PM On India Curbs On Palm Oil
India, the world's largest edible oil buyer, this month halted Malaysian palm oil imports after Malaysia PM Mahathir's comments criticising New Delhi over its policy on Kashmir.
Langkawi, Malaysia:
Malaysia will not take retaliatory trade action against India over its boycott of palm oil purchases amid a political row between the two countries, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday.
India, the world's largest edible oil buyer, this month effectively halted imports from its largest supplier and the world's second-biggest producer in response to comments from Mr Mahathir attacking its domestic policies.
"We are too small to take retaliatory action," Mr Mahathir told reporters in Langkawi, a resort island off the western coast of Malaysia. "We have to find ways and means to overcome that," he added.
The 94-year-old premier of Muslim-majority Malaysia has criticised India's new religion-based citizenship law.
Mr Mahathir again criticised the citizenship law on Monday, saying he believed it was "grossly unfair".
India has been Malaysia's largest palm oil market for the past five years, presenting the Southeast Asian country with a major challenge in finding new buyers for its palm oil.
Benchmark Malaysian palm futures f