Former MP takes responsibility for dumping rice, food items
PETALING JAYA: Former deputy home minister Ismail Mohamed Said has admitted to disposing of rice and other food items at a garbage disposal site in Temerloh, Pahang.
Photos of sacks of rice, cans of sardines, and flour dumped at the garbage disposal site have been going viral on social media.
In a statement, Ismail said the items were from a stockpile he had prepared for his constituents when he was the Kuala Krau MP, but that they were no longer fit for public consumption.
“I take full responsibility for this,” said Ismail, who was MP for the constituency from 2004 to 2022.
Ismail’s statement was shared in the agriculture and food security ministry’s WhatsApp group for the media.
Earlier today, agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said he had instructed his ministry to investigate the photos.
In his statement, Ismail said he had received complaints from neighbours on April 5 about a foul smell where the rice and other kitchen items were stored.
The Kuala Krau Umno chief said rat carcasses were found among the kitchen items while the rice had been contaminated with rice weevils.
“Part of the rice was handed over to chicken and duck farmers in the area and the rest was disposed of,” he said.
“The other items were also no longer suitable for public distribution.
“I take responsibility and deeply regret this matter, and I apologise to all parties for my oversight in monitoring the disposal of these items,” he said.
The former deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker said the purchase of the kitchen items did not involve allocations from the federal or Pahang state government.
He also said it did not involve goods meant for flood victims or allocated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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