Mat Sabu, Mada Corp CEO brush off controversy with hearty handshake

Mada Corp chief executive officer Abdullah Ismail and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu appeared to have mended their relationship today amid a controversy, where the former was allegedly rude by refusing to shake Mohamad's hand during the minister's recent working visit to Kedah.

According to a Facebook post on Mohamad's account earlier this afternoon, the two were pictured shaking hands when Abdullah paid the minister a visit at his office in Putrajaya.

"Mohamad received a visit from Mada Corp chief executive officer Abdullah this afternoon," the caption read.

The Facebook post, however, did not elaborate on what the two had discussed during the meeting.

A video clip showing Abdullah allegedly snubbing a handshake from Mohamad went viral earlier this week.

On a walkabout during the working visit, the minister was seen extending his hand to Abdullah but the latter did not reciprocate and instead merely smiled.

Netizens heavily criticised Abdullah, accusing him of being disrespectful, and some even alleged that it was because of differences in political ideology.

There were also calls for Mohamad to terminate Abdullah's contract as Mada Corp CEO.

Mada Corp is a subsidiary of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada), which is under Mohamad's ministry.

Misunderstanding

Abdullah has since issued a public apology and explained that he did not mean to snub the minister.

Instead, according to Abdullah, he had shaken Mohamad's hand earlier when the minister arrived at the location and was stumped when Mohamad extended his hand again during the incident.

"While escorting the minister to meet the other officers, he extended his hand again to me.

"Since I shook his hand earlier, I got stumped. I was wrong not to shake his hand again," Abdullah said, hoping that those offended would accept that it was a "misunderstanding".

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