ALOR STAR: Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has passed the ball back to Kedah Umno Information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin for an explanation on financially-troubled Kedah Agro Holdings Bhd.

Sanusi claimed that the bulk of the problems plaguing in the state-owned company came when the state was governed by Barisan Nasional.

He added that Shaiful, who was the political secretary to then-menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, should be the one explaining the issue to the public.

"The bulk of the Kedah Agro's troubles were when he (Shaiful) was in the state government.

"Kedah Agro had no business thus it was not generating income and has been plagued by financial problems ever since 2016.

"He (Shaiful) was in the state administration at the time. Kedah Agro was reprimanded in the 2017 Auditor General's Report.

"He was the political secretary to the menteri besar at that time.. He is the one who supposed to answer to the issue, so stop pretending that he's seeking answers (from the current state government)" he said when contacted.

On March 13, it was reported that a notice had been submitted in January to Kedah Agro to clear salary arrears of up to nine months.

It was alleged that Kedah Agro, a subsidiary of Kedah Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), had not paid its employees' salaries since last September, which a violation of Section 19 of the Employment Act 1955.

In response, Kedah MBI was quoted as saying that it is working to resolve the issue.

Shaiful had called out Sanusi on the issue, accusing the latter of neglecting the staff's predicament.

He also accused the state government of purchasing a new official car, after leaked photos of a RM400,000 Hyundai Palisade, supposedly for Sanusi's use, went viral.

Sanusi, in response, said official government vehicles are procured based on needs.

"Every year, the government will procure many assets including vehicles. In fact, for this year the government will be making new purchases."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/1029516/sanusi-throws-kedah-agro-wages-issue-back-shaiful