Minister clips scandal talk in tender process

The tender process by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MoA) for the award of contracts to the National Farmers' Organisation (Nafas) has yet to be finalised, said its minister Salahuddin Ayub.

He said the process had been carried out in accordance with established procedures and rules and there was no scandal as alleged.

"In fact, all decisions are yet to be finalised, as long as they are not finalised by the Finance Ministry, it still is an ongoing process," he said after officiating the Fisheries Department's 125th-anniversary celebration in Georgetown today.

"So I believe what we do in the ministry is in line with the rules as I always consider and fight for the well-being of the farmers that need to be safeguarded," he said.

Meanwhile, Salahuddin also admitted of writing a letter to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Nov 7, recommending that the tender to given to Nafas, but the matter was still under discussion.

"Yes, I wrote to the PM as it is my responsibility and it is a process," he said.

However, he said it would be a different matter if the letter of acceptance (SST) had been issued.

"If the SST has been issued and I interfere, then it is wrong," he said.

On Thursday, during a debate session at the Dewan Rakyat, MCA president Wee Ka Siong reportedly claimed that three contracts worth more than RM1 billion were cancelled after the MoA was said to award the project to Nafas under direct negotiations. - Bernama