Anwar: MACC to investigate fertiliser‑supply delay to paddy farmers in Kedah; errant contractors may face termination
SERDANG, Sept 6 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the issue of delays in the supply of Fertiliser 3 to paddy farmers in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area in Kedah.
He stressed that the delays should not have occurred and must not be allowed to recur.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that if any wrongdoing was detected, action should be taken to terminate the supply contract, including prosecution in accordance with the country’s laws against those responsible or any companies involved.
“Which company was entrusted with the responsibility? Did they fulfil their promise or not? If they did not fulfil it, why was no action taken against them? If a company like this repeatedly makes mistakes, terminate the contract! Appoint a new company.
“Do not make farmers and paddy farmers the victims. Take action; if there has been wrongdoing, bring them to court. If they are to be charged, let MACC come in and review this process,” he said in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 here today.
Anwar said paddy farmers should not be burdened with any issues that disrupt their livelihoods, especially at a time when they are already facing other problems, including water supply and hot weather conditions.
He said the issue of delays in the fertiliser supply had also directly tarnished the image of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS).
“MAFS has a clean record under Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. Its officials and ministry staff have always been committed to helping paddy farmers, but the damage caused has given the government a bad image.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to say that the government will do whatever possible to continue uplifting and helping paddy farmers, and those in the agriculture and livestock sectors,” he said.
The media had previously reported a call by Pengkalan Kundor assemblywoman Mardhiyyah Johari for the government to consider compensation for paddy farmers who suffered losses due to delays in the distribution of Additional Compound Fertiliser, or Paddy Fertiliser 3, in the MADA area.
The delay was reported to have affected about 38,000 paddy farmers cultivating 78,117 hectares of paddy in the MADA area.
Mohamad Sabu, in a statement, said the Paddy Fertiliser 3 had been supplied to MADA paddy farmers since last Thursday and was expected to be fully distributed within 10 days.
