Nothing to frown about my prawn business, says Noh
| Harakahdaily, | 16 July 2012 |
Jul 16: Agriculture and Agro-based minister Noh Omar who has been
accused of conflict of interest for being personally involved in a
prawn farm business at his Tanjong Karang constituency has defended
himself against critics.
“So,
a housing minister cannot purchase a house. Is there conflict of
interest?” he told reporters who asked for his reaction.
Last week, Sekinchan state assemblyman Ng Suee Lim claimed Noh
(pic) bought 30 acres of land at a heavily discounted price
in 1995, the year he won the Tanjong Karang seat.
Noh was said to have inked a deal to rent the land to Pristine
Agrofood Sdn Bhd for its prawn farming project in 2011 for 10 years.
Noh's involvement, said Ng, raised the issue of conflict of interest
as he is also the minister responsible for the industry.
Quoted by Chinese-language daily Sin Chew, Noh said he
bought the lands at Bagan Tengkorak before being appointed to the
cabinet.
“Furthermore, the land is not my sole ownership. Yes I am in a prawn
business project with others. Is that wrong?” he asked,
contradicting a statement by Pristine director Chu Bak Teck that Noh
was merely the landlord and had nothing to do with the business.
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