ALOR STAR: Kedah Umno information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin has hit back at Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for deflecting blame from Kedah Agro Holdings Bhd's financial crisis.

Shaiful highlighted that Sanusi has a track record of shifting blame onto others for any shortcomings in his administration.

"Sanusi shamelessly, without any sense of guilt, faults the Barisan Nasional government for the state's failure to settle overdue wages of Kedah Agro's workers since September 2023.

"I believe we're all familiar with the song 'bangau oh bangau,' (stork oh stork) where a stork is asked why it is so thin, and it blames the fish's absence, which, in turn, blames the tall grass and so on.

"This song, in essence, mocks those who point fingers at others for their own failures. It perfectly describes Sanusi," he said in a statement.

Shaiful stressed that this is not the first time Sanusi has blamed others, citing previous instances involving Kedah FC, Kedah Rubber City (KRC) and Kulim International Airport (KXP).

"Be it the issue of football players' wages, where he blamed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission; for investors withdrawing from KRC and KXP- he blamed the federal government.

"If everything is always someone else's fault, is Sanusi 'maksum' (never wrong)? This is absurd," he added.

Yesterday, Shaiful called out Sanusi over the Kedah Agro salary arrears issue involving delayed payments of 24 employees since September last year, accusing the latter of neglecting the situation.

In retaliation, Sanusi claimed that the bulk of the problems plaguing the state-owned company came when the state was governed by Barisan Nasional in 2016.

Hence, Sanusi said 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.

However, Shaiful dismissed Sanusi's reasoning, insisting that Kedah Agro's issues began much earlier, during the then Pas-PKR Pakatan Rakyat coalition's governance in 2008.

"The simple question is, how could there be 'no business' if, between 2005 and 2008, under former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Kedah Agro was profitable?

"Kedah Agro actually started incurring losses since Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak assumed the MB role, with Sanusi then as his political secretary, indicating that the problems began under Pas leadership," he said.

He added that Sanusi needs to be reminded that he has been Kedah MB for almost four years, implying Sanusi's failure to resolve the issues at hand.

He also said that Sanusi lacked empathy by approving the purchase of a new government vehicle amidst the salary crisis.

"I understand that governments procure new assets annually, but priorities matter. Knowing wages have been pending since September, why not settle this first? Why rush to purchase luxury cars?"

Commenting further, Shaiful said Sanusi needs to understand that the issue transcends mere financial performance of the company.

"Wages are a worker's right, to be paid regardless of profit or loss! Thus, Sanusi must face the reality that this isn't about profits or losses. This is about a GLC under the state government, which must take responsibility for all its unpaid staff and workers since September last year," he added.

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 is 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.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/1029698/kedah-agro-shaiful-slams-sanusi-never-taking-blame