BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last night denied that he owned a stake in premium bakery, The Loaf which ceased its operation on April 12, after 12 years in business.
The former prime minister claimed he only has some 200 unit shares with Malaysian Tobacco and Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB).
"I only have some 200 unit shares with a tobacco company and with PNB which were awarded to me when I launched PNB products (when I was PM), " he told reporters after attending a rally at Felda Bukit Tangga here yesterday.
Dr Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman, was responding to a report yesterday on the closure of The Loaf.
It was reported that the closure was announced through a notice uploaded to social media dated April 9, which was addressed to their customers.
The notice, however, did not state the reason why the outlet was closed.
The management only said it was satisfied that The Loaf had achieved its primary objective of improving the quality of breads and the bakery industry in the country.
“Thank you very much for enjoying and supporting the Loaf and our breads all these long years. We are truly happy and proud of the fact that the Loaf has been able to contribute to the betterment of quality of breads and bakery industry in Malaysia,” the notice read.
The Loaf opened its first outlet in Telaga Harbor, Langkawi in 2006 with an investment of RM3 million.
It then expanded to 12 outlets that included KLCC, Pavilion and Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, and Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya. — Reports by ADIE SURI ZULKEFLI, PETAH WAZZAN ISKANDAR, MUHAAMAD HAFIS NAWAWI