After the prawn farm controversy, Agriculture and Agro-based minister Noh Omar is thrust into another controversy after it was revealed that his ministry awarded a tender to supply paddy seeds to unqualified companies.
The tender worth RM164.8 million scandal was earlier exposed by PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar, who revealed a letter signed by the Finance ministry’s procurement division to Agriculture Ministry secretary-general Mohd Hashim Abdullah.
Despite lacking technical expertise or proper documentation from the tenderers, the Finance ministry had approved suppliers named by Noh’s ministry citing urgency to distribute paddy seeds.
On the Agriculture ministry’s website, Kilang Beras Seri Merbok Sdn Berhad and Haji Md Nor bin Haji Abd Rahmah (M) Sdn Bhd (HMN) won 52.5 percent of the total 80,000 tonnes annual padi supply quota.
Eight other suppliers won the tender to supply not more than 8,000 tonnes annually. Felcra Plantation Service Sdn Bhd, Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan Lahar Bubu and Syarikat Perniagaan Peladang Sdn Bhd (MADA) each obtained a quota of 8,000 tonnes while five others managed to get 2,000 to 3,000 tonnes.
However, it is understood HMN did not own any processing plants which formed part of the tender criteria set by the Finance ministry.
As such, Sekinchan state assemblyman Ng Suee Lim has urged Noh to quit over the scandal, saying both companies Seri Merbok and HMN were linked to UMNO. A director of Seri Merbok is also said to be a former Negeri Sembilan state exco while the owner of HMN is son of an UMNO branch committee member from Sungai Besar.
-Harakahdaily
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