KEDAH Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, stressed that the cattle farming joint-venture project implemented in 2020 was outside his jurisdiction.
The project, he said, was planned when Kedah was under the leadership of Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir as the Menteri Besar at the time.
Muhammad Sanusi said that Padang Serai Member of Parliament, Datuk Azman Nasruddin, who was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court yesterday, was one of the State Executive Council (EXCO) members at the time.
"I don't know, (the incident) was before I became Menteri Besar... before 2020. I don't know the incident and the events, I'm not even sure and just looked at the newspapers.
"Those who gave (bribes) were different people, received benefits were different, and the one who was charged was someone else. There's something strange there. To those following the issue, the perception is clear, but since this is now a court matter, I cannot say much," he added.
Muhammad Sanusi said this at a press conference after officiating the Kedah Digital Blueprint 2025-2050 Launching Ceremony at Wisma Darul Aman, today.
Muhammad Sanusi said, the cattle farming joint-venture project should be under the control of Kedah Agro Holding Berhad (KAHB).
However, he said, KAHB's operations were closed last year and the company was taken over by the private sector without the involvement of the state government at this time.
"Kedah Agro has been closed. When closed, it means no activity, closing the books. Kedah Agro is closed when we implemented the Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) and stopped operations.
"Now there is a private company taking over Kedah Agro. This is a case long before 2020, the Menteri Besar is someone else, the EXCO is someone else.
"He (Azman) was one of the EXCOs at that time," he said.
Yesterday, Azman and businessman Amar Assuat Abu Bakar were charged with corruption in connection with the project on the Kedah Agro Feedlot Farm.
According to the charge, Azman is accused of abetting Amar Assuat to accept RM400,000 from an individual as an inducement to obtain the project from Kedah Agro Holding Berhad on June 23, 2020 in Bandar Baru Bangi.
Azman, however, pleaded not guilty. – December 9, 2025
