KUALA LUMPUR: The government should consider replacing Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub if he continues to claim ignorance on issues within his own ministry, an opposition leader said today.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, a former agriculture minister, said it was impossible for a minister not to be informed about important matters such as the issue surrounding the RM1.4 billion in contracts allegedly awarded to the National Farmers Association (Nafas).
“I was a former agriculture minister, so was (Tan Sri) Noh Omar... So, it is impossible for us, as ministers, not to be informed on tenders or projects valued about RM1 billion as they must be presented to the cabinet.
“The minister, in the beginning, stated that it was a mistake made by the secretary-general. He (Salahuddin) does not know anything, from start to finish; when the tender was opened, the decision, etc.
“But what happened here is the minister has failed to execute his duty and claimed that he was not aware of it. This is something we can't accept.
"If a minister doesn’t know what is happening in his own ministry, I think he should be replaced,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
Ismail said tender processes are usually made public through the media and the minister or his officers should keep abreast of the latest development.
The Bera MP also said the decision to transfer the ministry's secretary-general Datuk Mohd Sallehhuddin Hassan was unfair and not in line with Pakatan Harapan's manifesto to be transparent in terms of awarding tenders and contracts.
“We are not against the tender given to Nafas. What is being questioned here is that the tender has been opened but later got cancelled.
"I believe the secretary-general was just adhering to the government’s manifesto where all tenders and contracts must be offered through open tenders.
Ismail said Public Service Department (PSD) director-general and the Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN) must prioritise their officers’ wellbeing and not be influenced by politics.
“We are asking the KSN and PSD to continue to uphold the government officers’ interests and not be subjected to political influence.
“First, we hope the minister will explain this and if possible to reverse the decision,” he said.
Earlier today, Salahuddin said the transfer was within PSD's jurisdiction and a normal exercise within the civil service.
He said the transfer was done based on instructions of the chief secretary to the government (Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar).