Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed MACC to investigate delays in fertiliser distribution affecting thousands of Kedah padi farmers.
SERDANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has ordered the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to scrutinise the fertiliser distribution process for padi farmers in Kedah following delays in distribution that have affected thousands of individuals.
He said he received a memorandum of protest from affected farmers and wanted authorities to determine whether the company entrusted with distributing fertilisers had fulfilled its obligations.
“I received a memorandum of protest from them. So, we have to go back and find out what the cause is.
“Which company was entrusted? Did it fulfil its promise or not? If it did not fulfil it, why was there no action against it?” he said at the closing of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition yesterday.
Anwar said companies that repeatedly fail to deliver should be replaced, stressing that farmers should not be made victims of weaknesses in the distribution system.
“If a company like this repeatedly makes mistakes, cancel it and appoint a new company. Don’t make the farmers and padi growers the victims.”
He also called for enforcement action where warranted, including prosecution or an MACC investigation.
“If it needs to be brought to court, bring it to court. If it needs to be investigated by the MACC, let the MACC come in. I ask the MACC to come in and review this process.”
Anwar said the issue is particularly serious as farmers are already grappling with weather and water related problems.
“Of course they are angry. Their programme has been disrupted, on top of the weather and water problems. These are things we cannot allow.”
Anwar said failures in governance could also undermine the reputation of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry despite its efforts to assist farmers.
He said increased government spending and allocations would mean little if funds were lost through leakage or poor management.
“Expenditure can increase and allocations can increase but if there are leakages, those who suffer are the farmers, the planters and the padi farmers.”
It was reported last month that about 40,000 of the 60,000 padi farmers in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority area had yet to receive their third additional fertiliser allocation, raising concerns over the impact on the padi yield.
On Wednesday, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said distribution would begin on Sept 3, with the process targeted for completion within 10 days.
On Felda, Anwar said the government would not make settlers bear the consequences of past management failures or alleged financial leakages.
He said settlers, many from poor rural communities, should not be held responsible for losses arising from weak management, given that they had worked to generate returns for the agency.
“How can I burden settlers from villages who are poor? It is not their fault.
“They went into the jungles, cleared the land and produced the returns. If the management was weak, people siphoned off the money or there was sakau, and then when there are losses, you want to burden the settlers? I cannot accept that.”
Anwar said better management of Felda would ultimately reduce the financial burden on taxpayers and lessen the need for the government to find additional revenue.
“If Felda is managed well, the people will not be burdened. We don’t have to think about imposing taxes because its management is good.”
He said the government’s approach is not about pursuing action for political popularity but fulfilling its responsibility to protect the interests of ordinary Malaysians.
