‘SANUSI SHIFTING BLAME AGAIN’
MB has been blaming others for faults in his administration, says Kedah Umno leader
KEDAH Umno information chief Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin has hit back at Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over Kedah Agro Holdings Bhd’s financial crisis.
Shaiful said Sanusi had a track record of shifting blame for shortcomings in his administration.
“Sanusi, 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 many are familiar with the song Bangau Oh Bangau about a stork being asked why it is so thin and it blames the lack of fish, which blames the tall grass and so on.
“This song mocks those who point fingers at others for their own failures. It perfectly describes Sanusi.”
Shaiful said Sanusi also blamed others for issues involving Kedah FC, Kedah Rubber City (KRC) and Kulim International Airport (KXP).
“The issue of football players’ wages, 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.”
On Saturday, Shaiful criticised Sanusi over the Kedah Agro workers’ salary arrears issue. Payments were allegedly delayed for 24 employees since September. Shaiful accused Sanusi of neglecting the situation.
In response, Sanusi claimed the bulk of the problems plaguing the state-owned company began when the state was governed by Barisan Nasional in 2016.
Sanusi said Shaiful, who was political secretary to then menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, should be the one explaining the issue to the public.
Shaiful slammed Sanusi’s reasoning, insisting that Kedah Agro’s issues began much earlier, during the Pas- and PKR-led administration in 2008.
“The question is, how can there be ‘no business’ if, between 2005 and 2008, under former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Kedah Agro was profitable?
“Kedah Agro started incurring losses since Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak assumed the MB role, with Sanusi as his political secretary, indicating that the problems began under Pas leadership.”
He said Sanusi needed to be reminded that he had been MB for almost four years.
He said Sanusi lacked empathy when he approved the purchase of a new state government vehicle amid the salary crisis.
“I understand that state governments procure new assets annually, but priorities matter. Knowing wages have been pending since September, why not settle it first? Why rush to buy luxury cars?”
He said Sanusi needed to understand that the issue went beyond the financial performance of the company.
“Wages are workers’ right, to be paid regardless of profits or losses. Sanusi must face the reality that this isn’t about profits or losses. This is about a company under the state government that must take responsibility for its staff who have been unpaid since September.”
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 employee salaries since September, which is a violation of Section 19 of the Employment Act 1955.
In response, Kedah MBI said it was working to resolve the issue.