Crazy, unheard of, bizarre: If you disagree, let's debate Rafizi dares KJ over 'cow condo'

Crazy. Unheard of. Bizarre. Strong words that Rafizi Ramli, the PKR strategy director known for his courtesy, was not shy to use when describing the decision by the NFC - a national beef farming project - to buy a RM10 million super plush condo in Bangsar.

His words contrasted like day to night with comments from Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who defended the purchase as a sensible investment decision as property would yield better returns.

Khairy appeared to have disregarded the goals for which Prime Minister Najib Razak had set aside RM250 million for the scheme, which aims to ensure that NFC supplies 40% of the country's beef consumption, thus ensuring that food prices could remain reasonable and cheap.

Pundits said the reply from Khairy's Umno colleague, Agriculture minister Noh Omar, was even more buffoonish. Noh insisted that once the authorities released the money to the project operator, it was up to the operator to do what they wished with the funds. Again, pundits warned that it is such lax control over the people's money that has spawned massive and endemic corruption.

The NFC's notorious project operator is none other than the family of Women's Minister, Shahrizat Jalil. They have been accused of siphoning out more than RM83 million to their family-controlled firms NLMC and RPC.

“It’s a crazy decision. It is unheard of and bizarre to invest in a luxury condo as a short-term investment especially in a soft market,” Rafizi told reporters on Monday.

Insulting the public's intelligence

Rafizi also thrashed Khairy for saying that it was an investment while the Shahrizats scouted for more satellite farms around the Gemas-based National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project.

"If it is while waiting for new satellite farms, then the money should be placed in liquid investments like the money or equity markets instead of being locked into property," said Rafizi.

The PKR leader challenged Khairy to an open debate on the matter "anytime and anywhere". But Khairy is not likely accept. So far, the Umno Youth chief has gone around challenging leaders more senior than him such as PAS No. 2

Parti Keadilan Rakyat, led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, has in the past weeks leveled accusations that NFC was being run to the ground by the Shahrizat-linked firms.

PKR MPs took the case to Parliament, where they were snubbed by BN lawmakers including Noh who insisted that the project met target and that it was merely a "coincidence" that it had been granted to a firm belonging to Sharizat's husband and children without a full-scale open tender.

However, the recently released Auditor-General's Report for 2010 also spoke badly of the NFC project, saying it was a "mess" and the entire project was way off target.

PKR then unleashed a barrage of evidence that allegedly confirmed huge 'pilferage' at the NFC, including a cheque for nearly RM10 million to buy an exclusive unit at the high-end One Menerung condo in Bangsar.

"Everyone who has been taught some basic business fundamentals know that projects succeed when they don't take on non-core assets which can turn problematic. Properties have peaked and when prices correct, what sort of return do the rakyat get? NFC is a national beef production project aimed to ensure everyone gets to buy beef at a cheap price. It has no business punting on property gains," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.

Malaysia Chronicle