Opposition parliamentarian Mahfuz Omar  has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe contracts awarded by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry to padi processing companies without the necessary facilities.

He accused the ministry of giving out such tenders to a company identified as Haji Md Nor Sdn Bhd.

"There were initially just four companies such as Padiberas Nasional Bhd and Syarikat Perniagaan Peladang (Mada) Sdn Bhd. But the ministry expanded that to 10 more companies and I was told that these companies have no padi processing plants," he said.

"Why give to those without processing plants? What good comes out from it if they have to send the padi somewhere else to be processed?" he asked.

The Pokok Sena PAS MP told reporters that he had raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat when the minister responsible, Noh Omar, was winding up the Supply Bill 2011 at the committee stage debate.

suaram forum on police 260910 mahfuz omar "He (Noh) said that the company had a relationship with the farmers at the Tanjung Karang constituency but brushed aside my question whether he had a stake in it," said Mahfuz ( left) .

He also wanted to know why factories under a major organisation like the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) were only instructed to produce 5,000 tonnes of grain when they have the capability to produce at least 15,000 tonnes.

"But a company like Haji Md Noh is asked to process 16,000 tonnes," he said.

It situation echoed that of companies given contracts to produce organic fertilisers with start up capital of RM2 or RM3, he added.

Mahfuz claimed that the companies had no experience and no facilities to produce fertilisers.

"I understand from farmers that these companies had failed to deliver fertilisers on time and some had not delivered even after the padi planting season in October," he said.

He stressed that the graft-buster must investigate these tenders and the companies to safeguard the interest of the farmers.