Ex-Kuala Krau MP apologises over dumping of rice, food stocks

 

Former Umno Kuala Krau lawmaker Ismail Mohamed Said has accepted full responsibility for the disposing of rice and other food stocks at a dumping site in Temerloh, Pahang.

According to the former deputy home minister, the items were part of stockpiles to meet public demand when he was the Kuala Krau lawmaker.

"I take responsibility and deeply regret this incident, and apologise to all parties for the negligence in monitoring the proper disposal of these goods," he said in a statement today.

He said the kitchen goods were provided using personal allocations before the 15th general election period in 2022, and it is known that during the campaign period, no distribution of goods to the public was allowed.

"On April 5 this year, I received a complaint from a neighbour about a foul smell coming from the storage area for these kitchen goods.

"An investigation at this storage area found several dead rats, and the rice and other goods had been contaminated by rice dust/weevils.

"The other items were also no longer suitable for distribution to the public due to contamination," he added.

Former Kuala Krau MP Ismail Mohamed Said

Ismail denied using the federal or state government allocations to purchase the stockpiles.

He also said some of the rice bags were handed to chicken and duck farmers in the surrounding areas, and some were disposed of.

Earlier, photographs showing dozens of sacks of rice, cans of sardines and flour being dumped in a garbage disposal area near the Rumpun Makmur-Kampung Gunung Senyum bypass route in Temerloh, Pahang, went viral on social media.

This led to some speculating it was one of the reasons for the current shortage of local white rice in the market.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu had ordered an investigation into the matter.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that Pahang Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) already started investigating the matter since yesterday.

Its director Sharudin Hamid said the investigation is being carried out under Section 71(1) of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act (Act 672).

He also confirmed that the illegal dumping site has been operating since 2014 on Felcra-owned land.

Stop speculating

In an update, the Agriculture And Food Security Ministry urged all parties to stop speculating on the matter as it is being investigated by the Temerloh branch of the Paddy and Rice Regulation under the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994.

The ministry said the Temerloh Paddy and Rice Regulation had determined that the rice was unsuitable for consumption.

“For everyone’s information, any activities of rice disposal should be referred to the Paddy and Rice Regulation, Agriculture And Food Security Ministry,” it said in a statement.

It added that the Federal Territories SWCorp had also gone to the site where the rice had been disposed of. - Mkini

Nube lodges police reports against HR minister for 'abuse of power'

 

The National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) has lodged police reports against Human Resources Minister Steven Sim for alleged abuse of power and breach of trust.

According to its general secretary J Solomon, Sim had allegedly sidelined workers in favour of negotiations with their employers, represented by the Malayan Commercial Banks’ Association (MCBA), for a festival aid payment.

Solomon said the police reports were lodged by Nube representatives nationwide, claiming Sim "clandestinely" discussed with MCBA about the festival aid for 2024 without the knowledge of the union's national executive council.

Solomon said that Nube signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with MCBA on Apr 5, 2023, for banks to pay a month's salary as festival aid to its members and the payment will be reviewed by both parties the following year.

The one-month salary was paid out as stated in the MOA last year, he noted. Beginning last Dec, Nube reminded MCBA of the agreement and began the reconciliation process for the payment.

National Union of Bank Employees general secretary J Solomon

"Although reconciliation was still ongoing, the minister - without the knowledge and consent of Nube - had interfered and worked with MCBA and got the banks to pay the clerical and special grade clerical members of Nube only a half-month salary, contrary to the MOA.

"Further, it is regretted that contrary to the MOA, the minister had also agreed with MCBA that this shall be a one-off payment for all categories of Nube members," Solomon said in a statement today.

On April 5, Solomon held a press conference, accusing Sim of sidelining workers in favour of negotiations with MCBA for festival aid payment.

“The minister cannot meet with MCBA when there is a trade dispute between two parties.

“He cannot meet them (MCBA) in private without both parties being present,” he was reported as saying then.

‘Oppresive’

Meanwhile, Solomon accused the minister of being oppressive against Nube members.

He added that the purported abuse of power and "betrayal" by the minister had affected 15,000 bank workers in the B40 and M40 categories.

Human Resources Minister Steven Sim

"As a minister, Sim is supposed to include all parties when discussing matters about a dispute.

“However, Sim had failed to do so. He only discussed with MCBA and sidelined Nube. This had unduly affected the rights of our members.

"This action by Sim has caused us to lose confidence in him. It is obvious that the speech by Sim that he wants to enrich cooperation with trade unions is merely a play-act of Kesuma (Human Resources Ministry) or "sandiwara Kesuma"," decried Solomon.

Met at a function in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, Sim refused to comment, saying he would let the Industrial Court handle the matter. - Mkini