KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said, the Special Monitoring Committee for the Strengthening of Governance at the National Farmers' Organisation (NAFAS) will recommend an appropriate timeline for lifting the suspension of NAFAS' Constitution.
"The suspension period will depend on the recommendations from those overseeing the governance (of Nafas), he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today when responding to a question from Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Sim Tze Tzin about the duration of the suspension on NAFAS.
"Once everything is resolved, we will lift the suspension through amendments under the minister's and the ministry's authority, with advice from legal advisors," he added.
Nafas was suspeneded on Nov 1, 2024 when its board of directors disregarded decisions made by the registrar of the farmers' organisation and acted independently by issuing media statements.
Nafas is currently administered by an Administrator appointed by the Registrar of Farmers' Organisations Authority (LPP).
In Oct, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched a probe into the existence of a cartel in the distribution and supply of rice fertilizer contracts, estimated to be worth RM1.8 billion. The anti-corruption watchdog did not identify the ministry concerned.
Mohamad said it was crucual to heed the advice from legal experts so that when the suspension is lifted, operations would proceed smoothly without any overlapping authority, adding that management reports from LPP would be submitted directly to the Cabinet regularly.
All of Nafas's obligations to any third party would be carried out by the Administrator to ensure there is no disruptions in its activities, he said.
"For Nafas' business operations involving the supply of paddy fertilizer to farmers, these remain entirely unaffected. It will proceed as usual under the jurisdiction of the Nafas Administrator," he said.