KUALA LUMPUR: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is ready to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following the revelation of a cartel involved in the distribution and supply of padi fertiliser contracts worth RM1.8 billion.
According to Buletin Utama, its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said he welcomed the investigation made by MACC on the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas).
"I wholeheartedly welcome the investigation by the MACC that is currently underway into Nafas.
"I also want to assure that the ministry will provide full cooperation to the MACC to complete their investigation," he was quoted as saying.
It was reported that MACC is investigating a cartel involved in the distribution and supply of padi fertiliser contracts linked to a ministry, with a total value of RM1.8 billion.
MACC launched an investigation after conducting a series of raids over the past two days around Kuala Lumpur, including at the organisation's headquarters, the ministry, and nine companies awarded related projects.
According to sources, the project under the ministry, valued at RM1.8 billion, was awarded to the organisation for a period of 30 months from 2021 to 2023.
The source explained that the organisation was responsible for producing padi fertiliser and distributing it to farmers nationwide through its state-level offices.