THE Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) in Terengganu has denied claims that foreigners, including Rohingya, have been given trading lots at farmers’ markets under its supervision.
The denial follows the circulation of a photograph on social media showing a man believed to be a foreigner selling vegetables at a market in Besut.
FAMA Terengganu said its investigation found that the market shown in the photograph was a morning market in Kuala Besut operated by another government agency, and not a FAMA-managed farmers’ market.
State FAMA director Muhamad Fadlee Hassan said the agency had also warned its traders against transferring their permits to foreigners or allowing them to operate their stalls.
"If a stall is operated by a foreigner without the presence of the original permit holder, the business permit will be cancelled immediately," he said when contacted today.
FAMA currently manages only two farmers’ markets in Besut — Pasar Tani Jertih, which operates every Thursday, and Pasar Tani Alor Lintang, which operates every Saturday.
Both markets operate from 7am to 1pm.
"Based on the photograph uploaded on Facebook since Friday, the foreigner seen selling vegetables was not at a FAMA-managed farmers’ market, but at a morning market operated by another government agency," Muhamad Fadlee said.
FAMA Terengganu, in a statement today, reiterated that no non-Malaysian individuals had been appointed as participants at farmers’ markets under its supervision in the state. - August 30, 2026
