Mat Sabu welcomes MACC probe into fertiliser supply delays

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu emphasized the importance of early intervention in addressing delays in state-subsidized fertiliser deliveries, particularly affecting paddy farmers.

He praised the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for their prompt investigation into the matter, which involved a supplier under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) failing to deliver on schedule.

The ministry acted swiftly to discuss issues with MADA leadership, leading to the termination of the underperforming supplier's contract.

Mohamad affirmed his cooperation with investigators and stressed the need for MACC to act impartially to prevent future supply chain failures.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu today welcomed a swift corruption probe into delays surrounding state-subsidised fertiliser deliveries, saying early intervention was critical to preventing finger-pointing and protecting paddy farmers.

Addressing Parliament on the delays affecting farmers under the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), Mohamad said he welcomed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) rapid involvement to resolve the dispute and enforce accountability.

“I express my gratitude here because MACC moved in quickly. That is very good,” Mohamad said during Question Time.

“Otherwise, accusations would be thrown back and forth at this person or that person. But stepping in quickly allowed the issue to be resolved.”

The delays had sparked frustration among paddy farmers in the country’s northern states, fuelling protests placards over late shipments of compound fertilisers essential for seasonal planting cycles.

Mohamad clarified that his ministry took direct action behind closed doors before public protests escalated, including conducting an unannounced visit to MADA headquarters to meet with its director.

“On this fertiliser issue, even before there were protest placards raised, I had already taken action, though I didn’t announce it publicly,” he said.

“I went privately to MADA and met with the director to discuss it. He confirmed there was indeed a delay.”

Following consultations with newly appointed MADA leadership, the ministry identified an underperforming supplier and recommended terminating its contract directly to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Ministry of Finance, Mohamad said.

The company’s contract was subsequently revoked, triggering the MACC investigation.

The minister, who confirmed he had personally given a statement to anti-graft officers to assist in the investigation, reiterated that the administration hopes the MACC acts “without fear or favour” to set a precedent against systemic supply chain failures.

“I was also called in to give my statement to MACC. I am very glad this issue could be resolved and that the best way forward was found for the interest of the farmers,” Mohamad said, adding that criminal liability can only be determined by investigators.

“As for who committed corruption or not, it is not for us to accuse. Leave it to the investigating authorities.”

The government typically appoints the National Farmers’ Organisation (Nafas) as the designated body responsible for distributing subsidised fertilisers under the Skim Insentif Pengeluaran Padi (SIPP) to paddy farmers in MADA regions.

The MACC launched an investigation following complaints that a sub-contracted private supplier appointed under the KPKM-Nafas framework failed to deliver Baja 3 (compound fertiliser) on schedule to roughly 100,000 hectares of paddy fields under MADA in Kedah and Perlis.

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农业及粮食安全部长拿督斯里莫哈末沙布强调，及早干预解决国家补贴化肥交付延误问题至关重要，这尤其会影响稻农。

他赞扬马来西亚反贪污委员会（MACC）对此事迅速展开调查，此事涉及慕达农业发展局（MADA）的一家供应商未能按时交货。

该部迅速采取行动，与MADA领导层讨论相关问题，最终终止了与这家表现不佳的供应商的合同。

穆罕默德表示他将配合调查人员的工作，并强调反贪污委员会必须公正行事，以防止未来供应链出现问题。

吉隆坡，10 月 14 日——农业及粮食安全部长拿督斯里莫哈末沙布今天对迅速展开的关于国家补贴化肥交付延误的腐败调查表示欢迎，称及早干预对于防止互相指责和保护稻农至关重要。

莫哈末在国会就穆达农业发展局（MADA）下属农民所面临的延误问题发表讲话时表示，他欢迎马来西亚反贪污委员会（MACC）迅速介入解决争端并追究责任。

“我在此表达我的感激之情，因为反贪污委员会迅速采取了行动。这非常好，”穆罕默德在质询环节说道。

“否则，各方就会互相指责。但及时介入才使得问题得以解决。”

肥料的延误引发了该国北部各州稻农的不满，他们举着标语牌抗议，要求延迟运送季节性种植周期所需的复合肥料。

穆罕默德澄清说，在公众抗议升级之前，他的部门已在闭门会议中采取了直接行动，包括突访MADA总部，与该部门负责人会面。

“关于化肥问题，甚至在抗议标语出现之前，我就已经采取了行动，尽管我没有公开宣布，”他说。

“我私下去了MADA，和院长会面讨论了此事。他证实确实存在延误。”

莫哈末表示，经与新任命的MADA领导层磋商，该部确定了一家表现不佳的供应商，并建议直接向首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣和财政部终止与其的合同。

该公司的合同随后被撤销，引发了马来西亚反贪污委员会的调查。

该部长证实他已亲自向反贪官员提供证词以协助调查，并重申政府希望反贪污委员会“不畏强权、不徇私情”地行事，以树立打击系统性供应链失灵的先例。

“我也被传唤到反贪污委员会作证。我很高兴这个问题能够得到解决，并且找到了最符合农民利益的解决方案，”穆罕默德说，并补充说，刑事责任只能由调查人员确定。

“至于谁犯了贪污罪，我们无权指责，应该交给调查机关处理。”

政府通常会指定国家农民组织（Nafas）作为指定机构，负责根据稻米补贴计划（SIPP）向MADA地区的稻农分发补贴化肥。

马来西亚反贪污委员会 (MACC) 就一起投诉展开调查，该投诉称，根据 KPKM-Nafas 框架指定的一家分包私人供应商未能按时向吉打州和玻璃市州 MADA 管辖下的约 10 万公顷稻田交付 Baja 3（复合肥料）。

马来西亚不会加入美国支持的和平委员会，并将监督有关巴勒斯坦权利的行动。

警方澄清，斗湖枪击案视频显示，此前已逮捕了勒死警员的暴力强奸嫌疑人。

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