Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub said Nafas documents showed that it had held a roadshow for farmers and fishermen at the time.

“The hotel was rented until Oct 30 or 31,” he said, adding that Nafas was not involved in the by-election drives but had only held internal campaigns in Johor Bahru and other parts of the state.

“If there was abuse, please give me the evidence for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and police to probe so that there will be no slander,” he said.

He was replying to Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PAS-Rantau Panjang) who had asked about payment for the hotel rooms, the invoice for which was given to Nafas.

Earlier, he was asked by Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh (PH-Ledang) about changes made by the new Nafas administration and measures taken to prevent the abuse of power.

Salahuddin said he had asked MACC to boost certain laws governing Nafas so that it could be turned from a cooperative into a public body.

“So that it would be more transparent,” he said, adding that procedures for payment were carried out according to the law.

He said this was because Nafas was probed by MACC and the police for abuse of power after the May 9 polls last year.

To an additional question by Johari Abdul (PH-Sungai Petani) on ways to expand Nafas to ensure the welfare of the 920,000 farmers under the organisation, he said the government would continue to offer aid.

“We must stop any corruption so that it will grow,” he added.

Salahuddin recently acknowledged writing a letter to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad for the award of a RM1.4 billion padi subsidy contract to Nafas.

The minister said he had done nothing wrong as no decision had been made yet by the finance ministry. As long as no decision is made, the open tender process is still ongoing, he said.

“What I have done (for Nafas) is according to the rules set. That is my responsibility. I am adamant that I did nothing wrong and there is no evidence to proof any wrongdoing.”