Bung Moktar wants Shahrizat to resign

BN backbenchers deputy chief Bung Moktar Radin told the Dewan Rakyat today that the cabinet minister responsible for the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) fiasco should resign.

He mentioned this in passing, during the debate on Transport Minister Kong Chor Har’s winding up speech on the Supply Bill 2012.

Bung Moktar (left) made the comment when BN MPs veered into the topic of budget carrier AirAsia’s recent share swap deal with Malaysia Airlines.

“My position is very clear. Just like the feedlot issue. I agree that this is not the work of Umno. This is the work of individuals. To me, the person should be responsible.

“If I was in (the person’s) position, I would resign. (The person) is causing problems. Everything the person does,semua musnah (ends up in ruins).

“Whatever that is not right, we must correct, even if the person is a minister from Umno. Who is the person? If the person is wrong, resigning is better than being a liability to Umno and BN.

“We must be firm because we administer this country based on justice,” the Kinabatangan MP told the House.

Although Bung Moktar mentioned that he was referring to a cabinet minister, at no point did he mention the minister’s name in the House.

'Resign and apologise'

When contacted by Malaysiakini later in the evening, Bung Moktar confirmed that he was referring to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

“She should take responsibility and face the music,” he said.

To another question, Bung Moktar said Shahrizat should resign as soon as possible, because the NFC controversy had damaged the reputation of BN and Umno.

He said that since she was holding government and party positions, an apology to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was also in order.

Bung Moktar stressed that he had nothing personal against Shahrizat and that he does not blame Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar for the NFC scandal.

Bung Moktar is believed to be the first BN Member of Parliament to have publicly criticised Shahrizat over the matter, at a time when fellow backbenchers, including Khairy Jamaluddin, are scrambling to control the damage caused by the controversy.