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Genetic pollution risk of GM Maize MON87429 to original maize species: 23 NGOs urge rejection of application

  • Publication Date | March 10, 2022
  • Document Type | Media Statement
  • Programmes | Agriculture
  • Issues | Agriculture, Biodiversity, Genetic Engineering, Pollution, Seeds
  • Tags | Food Sovereignty, GM Maize, Malaysian Food Security and Sovereignty
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This is a press statement by the Malaysian Food Security and Sovereignty Forum of which SAM is a member of

corn, cob, ear-40294.jpg

We are very concerned about the recent announcement on the website of the National Biosafety Department (JBK), Ministry of Environment and Water, on an application for approval submitted by Bayer Co. (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. to import and distribute herbicide-resistant maize, MON87429 that has been genetically modified (GM). The purpose of the import and release is to supply or offer for sale/ placing on the market for direct use as food, feed and for processing (FFP) of MON 87429 maize. This means that MON87429 maize may enter Malaysia as grain, food ingredients for processing or packaging or as finished products ready for distribution, or as feed meal for animals.

The GM maize to be imported is derived from common corn Zea mays with the added characteristics of tolerance to dicamba herbicides, glufosinate, aryloxyphenoxypropionate (AOPP) inhibitor acetylcoenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). This GM maize isproduced through genetic modification technology by combining DNA materials from maize and four bacteria that become donor organisms namely Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptomyces viridochromogenes, Sphingobium herbicidovorans, and Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4. 

The application for the importation and sale of this maize raises serious concerns about its impact on humans and the environment.  Over the years, since 2010 there have been other approvals for FFP use of GM corn besides others such as GM soybean, potato, sugar beet, cotton, oil seed rape, and canola. 

There is a risk of genetic contamination from the GM maize to conventional corn grown in fields as well as corn grown in homes and villages when it is distributed into the market. Although the importers claim that the potential spread of this GM maize to the environment is limited to the occurrence of spills in the handling process and state that this maize is unable to germinate because it requires optimal environmental conditions such as in a large farm, it still should not be taken lightly.

Currently, although not the main crop of the country, maize is widely grown in most areas in Malaysia because it is easy to grow and suitable for hot and humid weather conditions here. Maize is an open pollination species (wind & insects). It will easily cross pollinate other neighbouring maize production. Not to mention if there are irresponsible parties processing the seeds and growing this GM maize without the knowledge of the authorities. In fact, according to the GM Contamination Register, until 2014 the maize crop had the second-highest number of GM contamination incidents at 25% or 98 incidents after paddy (34% or 134 incidents).

This MON87429 maize is specially designed to be tolerant to agricultural pesticides and of course, has a higher probability of survival when the area on which this maize grows is sprayed with herbicides. As was the case with the MR220 CL2 rice variety that was cross-bred with weedy rice, the same incident also has the potential to occur with this GM maize.

The process of genetic modification is known to be unstable and can lead to uncontrolled consequences. There are studies showing that these genetically modified organisms have altered the levels of metabolites in rice and maize that are resistant to herbicides. Such rice and maize produce compounds that are toxic to humans in certain contexts. There is very little information about this GM maize variety. No open details at the molecular level are available to ensure that this genetic modification of maize does not cause any undesirable effects. In light of the gaps in knowledge on the impacts of this GM maize, the precautionary principle has to be applied – this is required in the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol that Malaysia joined in 2003, and incorporated in the National Biosafety Act 2007. This means that Bayer’s application for the import and release of MON87429 maize must be rejected.  We also urge the National Biosafety Board to revoke all previous approvals of other GM events.

Nurfitri Amir Muhammad
Coordinator
for and on behalf of the

Malaysian Food Sovereignty Forum (FKMM)


List of FKMM Members and other organisations supporting this statement:

  1. Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)
  2. Frangipani Natural Farm
  3. Greenpeace Malaysia
  4. Ikatan Intelegensia Membangun Malaysia (IIMAM)
  5. Komuniti Pondok Sukun (Kompos)
  6. Malaysian Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (MISA)
  7. Natural Farming Association of Malaysia (NFAM)
  8. Organic Alliance Malaysia (OAM)
  9. Persatuan Melayu Marudi (PMM)
  10. Persatuan Penduduk Iban Marudi, Baram (PPIMB)
  11. Persatuan Penduduk Kampung Uma Bawang (PPKUB) 
  12. Persatuan Penduduk Rumah Labang Nanga Seridan Tinjar Beluru Miri (PPRLNSTBM)
  13. Persatuan Penduduk Sungai Buri Bakong Marudi (PPSBBM)
  14. Persatuan Penduduk Sungai Melikat Marudi, Baram (PPSMMB)
  15.  Persatuan Usahawan Tani Cinta Alam Kelantan (PUNCAK)
  16. Persatuan Agroekologi Malaysia (SRI-Mas)
  17. Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (GRASS Malaysia)
  18. Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (PEKA)
  19. Pertubuhan Pembangunan Antarabangsa & Penyelidikan Untuk Kelestarian (IDRIS Assc.)
  20. Pertubuhan Persaudaraan Pesawah Malaysia (PeSAWAH)
  21. Pertubuhan Rangkaian Pembangunan Kesinambungan Malaysia (SUSDEN Malaysia)
  22. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM)
  23. Third World Network (TWN)

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
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Che Ani Mt Zain
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My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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