Penang exco says no misappropriation in RM500,000 fishermen voucher programme, cites document delays

GEORGE TOWN, May 8 — Penang state exco Datuk Rashidi Zinol has denied any misappropriation following claims by fishing equipment shop operators that they had not received payments under a RM500,000 fishermen voucher programme.

The Rural Development, Agrotechnology, Food Security and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman said there were issues with payments involving various agencies, namely the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM), the State Economic Planning Division (BPEN) and several state financial agencies.

“Checks found there were documentation issues as some company documents were incomplete, which delayed the payment process to the eight companies involved,” he explained during a press conference today.

He said six of the eight companies had submitted complete documents and would be eligible for payment first.

“The remaining two companies have yet to complete their documents and we have informed them to do so,” he said.

He was commenting on a police report lodged by fishing equipment shop operators today claiming they had not received payments from the fishermen voucher programme, which is under the state exco office.

According to Rashidi, the funds from LKIM had been returned to the State Economic Planning Division before the repayment process was reorganised according to procedure.

“If there was misappropriation, the money would not have been easily returned,” he said.

He said it was clear that this was a technical and documentation issue.

Rashidi also denied allegations that BPEN had not responded to enquiries from the companies involved, explaining that the review and payment process was being coordinated in stages.

“We are now expediting the process and payments will be channelled by next week at the latest once all documents are finalised,” he said.

He reminded the affected companies to submit completed documents to receive the payments.

“Payment will be made next week,” he asaid.

He said it was the companies’ right to lodge police reports on the issue to seek clarification.

“If they want to lodge a police report, go ahead, we have no problem because we are confident there was no misappropriation. Let the police investigate,” he said.