SERDANG, Sept 6 2026 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has directed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) to investigate delays in the distribution of fertilizer to paddy farmers in Kedah, saying growers must not be made to pay for repeated failures by contractors.
Anwar said the delay had caused deep concern among farmers, who submitted a memorandum on the issue.
“I don’t know which company it is. I say if a company like this repeatedly makes mistakes, cancel it, take a new company. Don’t make farmers and paddy growers the victims. Take action. If they need to be brought to court, bring them to court. If they need to be charged, SPRM should come in. I have already asked SPRM to come in and review this process,” he said.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2026 at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on Sunday.
Anwar said that while the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had a good record, weaknesses on the part of certain parties could damage the ministry’s image and undermine the government’s efforts to help the people.
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said recently that the government had terminated the services of Taveekun Manufacturing Sdn Bhd following delays in the distribution of Baja Padi 3 in Kedah.
He said the remaining delayed fertilizer for farmers in the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area began to be delivered from Sept 3, with the full delivery process targeted for completion within 10 days.
The issue was raised after Pengkalan Kundor assemblyman Mardhiyyah Johari urged the government to consider compensation for farmers who suffered losses from the late supply of additional compound fertilizer, or Baja Padi 3, in the MADA area.
The delay was reported to have affected about 38,000 paddy farmers cultivating 78,117 hectares in the MADA scheme.
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