KUALA LUMPUR: Egg importer J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd has denied claims made by Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief Datuk Seri Azmin Ali that the company was awarded the contract via direct negotiation by the government.
In a statement, the company said it had never sold eggs to the government or relevant agencies and only imported the eggs as a stop-gap measure to supply the local market from December last year to June this year, following a severe shortage of eggs since October.
The company said Azmin's statement was a blatant lie and designed to confuse the public to deflect the criminal case filed against Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"Azmin, in his desperate attempt to create a diversion, is taking his favourite back-door approach by using a lame spin of a normal egg importation into a fake scenario of direct negotiations by the government to buy imported eggs from us, which is an absolute lie.
"J&E Advance Tech Sdn Bhd has never sold eggs to the government and only imported the eggs as a stop-gap measure to supply the local market during the festive season period from December to June this year.
"As there has been a severe shortage in the market since October, we had requested permission from the government to import eggs to help resolve the issue."
The company also said the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) and the Indian government Veterinary Health and Zoo Sanitary Certificate (Livestock Products) had both scrutinised the imported eggs.
The company also demanded Azmin make necessary reparations within 72 hours from the date hereof, or it would take legal action against him.
"Unless Azmin makes necessary reparations by making and issuing the relevant corrective statement in writing to us and on frequently used social media platforms within 72 hours from the date hereof, we will proceed to commence legal action against him."
On Saturday, Azmin, during a PN ceramah at Pas' base in Taman Melewar alleged that the government awarded the project to import eggs from India via direct negotiations.