PICTURES and videos of rice and sardine cans burning at a landfill in Temerloh, Pahang, had circulated online recently.
The footage originally appeared on Facebook and TikTok yesterday (April 18), with videos showing heaps of 10kg rice sacks and sardine cans being set on fire, with some of the cans being burned to a crisp.
Additionally, Ismail Mohamed Said, former Deputy Home Minister and ex-Kulau Krau MP, admitted today that he disposed of the rice and other food supplies after photographs of the disposal went viral.
Also Read: KPKM: Rice thrown at Temerloh dumpsite spoilt, unsafe for consumption
He accepted full responsibility for the disposal, claiming, “These were stockpiles always prepared to meet public demand during my service as MP for Kuala Krau.”
He stated unequivocally that these food products were purchased with his own money prior to the general election, and that “no distribution of goods to the public was allowed” during the campaign time.
The dumped materials were not purchased with government funds, either federal or state, and were unrelated to COVID-19 or flood preparations, he stated.
On April 5, Ismail examined a neighbour’s complaint about a bad stench and discovered that the storage space included rat carcasses, as well as rice and other products having been contaminated with rice weevils.
However, due to contamination, these articles were “no longer suitable for distribution to the public.”
He further stated that part of the rice had been distributed to local chicken and duck farmers, while the rest was disposed of.
“I accept full responsibility and truly regret this situation, and I apologize to all parties for the error in supervising the disposal of these food products.”
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