PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Ismail Mohamed Said has admitted that he is responsible for the mass dumping of rice and other food items at a garbage disposal site in Temerloh, Pahang.

       This comes after a video showing mounds of food discarded at a garbage site went viral on social media.

       In a statement on Friday (April 19), the former deputy home minister said he had purchased the items for his constituents when he was Kuala Krau MP.

       "I take full responsibility for the disposal of the items," he said.

       Ismail said he had received complaints on April 5 that a stench was coming from the storehouse for the food.

       "Several dead rats were found in the storehouse and the rice was also contaminated with rice weevils.

       "Some of the rice was distributed to poultry farmers and the remainder was disposed of," he said.

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       Ismail, who is also former deputy Parliament speaker, added the food was not purchased with allocations from the federal or Pahang governments.

       He added that it was not meant for flood victims or allocated during the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "I take full responsibility and regret the incident. I apologise to everyone for my oversight in disposing of the items," he said.