One of the country's largest padi seed suppliers that bagged a government contract has conceded his company did not meet the
 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/211140" target="_blank">
 
 tender criteria
 
 </a>
 , but pointed out that others are in the same boat.


 "This is not an issue," said Mansor Md Nor, the manager of Haji Md Nor bin Haji Abd Rahmah (M) Sdn Bhd (HMN), brushing off the allegation.


 <img align="left" alt="NONE" height="201" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/531/3a8e130f13bc35c133c94ca3acaf1ed6.jpg" width="300"/>
 Asked to respond to a claim that his company was
 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/211140" target="_blank">
 
 in breach
 
 </a>
 of a tender criterion that requires bidders to own plants, he admitted one of the two plants operated by HMN was leased from Muda Agriculture Development Authority, a federal agency.


 "The plant (in Sungai Burong, Selangor) was in poor condition. After we took over, we renovated, fixed and repaired it to meet all the criteria set by the authorities," he said.


 HMN had received a quota for the annual supply of 20,000 tonnes of padi seeds from the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to farmers from 2013 to 2014.


 This was the second-highest quantum among all 10 bumiputera suppliers, as
 
 <a href="http://www.moa.gov.my/web/guest/senarai-keputusan-tender-kementerian-pertanian-dan-industri-asas-tani-tahun-2012" target="_blank">
 posted
 </a>
 
 on the ministry website.


 <img align="right" alt="NONE" height="417" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/530/1a6d72e030e379b99babe116662bf2e2.jpg" width="300"/>
 HMN and Kilang Beras Seri Merbok Sdn Bhd, which topped the list with a quota of 22,000 tonnes, together obtained 52.5 percent of the total annual padi supply quota of 80,000 tonnes.


 A spokesperson for Seri Merbok refused to comment when contacted, preferring to leave the issue to the Agriculture Ministry.


 Last week PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar had revealed a
 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/210686" target="_blank">
 
 leaked letter
 
 </a>
 in Parliament, purportedly sent by the Finance Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry.


 The letter states that RM164.8 million allocated for the supply of padi seeds under an Agriculture Ministry programme had allegedly been awarded to suppliers who failed to meet the tender criteria.


 
 
 'The people have not complained'
 
 


 Stressing that HMN, established in 1992, is a pioneer in the industry, Mansor said Mahfuz failed to gather comprehensive information on the matter.


 <img align="left" alt="NONE" height="225" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/531/a72f989f7cbdb8fad08edab860ab22db.jpg" width="300"/>
 "Those who have complained are politicians, the people themselves have not complained. This is a political issue because if the people (don't want to), they don't have to buy the seeds from me. We have proven that we have the capacity to process the padi seeds," he said.


 The issue had been widely circulated on the Internet since last month, following an anonymous article purportedly written by 'Anxious Member of MoA [Agriculture Ministry]', alleging that both HMN and Seri Merbok are cronies of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Noh Omar.


 Mansor has denied this. He insisted that the company has complied with other criteria set by the agriculture authorities.


 &nbsp;


 
 
 PADI-GATE IN AGRI MINISTRY
 
 


 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/211140" target="_blank">
 'Unqualified' seeds suppliers win RM165mil tender
 </a>


 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/211240" target="_blank">
 Padi seeds supplier: Criteria not met, but...
 </a>


 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/211347" target="_blank">
 Padi seeds tender: Was Finance Ministry duped?
 </a>


 <a href="http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/211459">
 Ex-NS exco a director in 'unqualified' seeds supplier
 </a>


 &nbsp;

<img align="left" alt="NONE" height="64" src="http://mk-cdn.mkini.net/531/cce284f5f30564898b04e66afd4825fa.jpg" width="64"/>
Its manager points out that other bumi firms, too, have failed to comply with the tender criteria in supplying seeds to farmers.

Padi seeds supplier: Criteria not met, but...

~RM12

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