Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah State Farmers’ Association (PPNS) has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the failure of the National Farmers’ Association (Nafas) to pay off debts of more than RM2 million.
PPNS Board of Directors Member Datuk Ng Loi Tect, said the amount included fertiliser warehouse rent and all payments demanded by PPNS related to the supply and delivery of fertiliser to members statewide.
He alleged some Nafas officials of having other interests and deliberately delaying the payments for two years.
A police report was also made for appropriate action against those responsible for contract management and debt payment to PPNS.
“I stress the need for Nafas to pay warehouse rent and debts that have been outstanding for so long, which includes 26 Regional Farmers’ Organisations (PPK) that depend on us,” he told a press conference, Thursday.
Loi Tect urged the Federal Government, especially the Prime Minister to intervene so that Nafas is held accountable.
This is besides ensuring that any projects related to farmers and their interests are prioritised and given to PPNS as an organisation that looks after the welfare of its members in Sabah.
“So we ask that PPNS be granted the project award that we previously received, which lately has not been granted by Nafas as we are being played out by Nafas senior officers.
“PPN in the peninsula received a project award and we ask the same for Sabah.
“In accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) we in Sabah and Sarawak should receive equal treatment with our friends in the Peninsula,” he said.
Loi Tect also expressed support for the demands of PPNS last year regarding Nafas’ attitude of not caring about the problems faced by PPNS and the debt.
PPNS had warned that it would sell all the remaining fertiliser reserves belonging to the organisation to cover the warehouse rental payment.
