The government will not fall for the opposition's charges that the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) had abused state funds, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
He insisted that the government was “well aware of the real status” of the issue.
“We will not swallow every story that concocted by the opposition,” said Muhyiddin while speaking to reporters after officially opening the inaugural United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Day.
The NFC was awarded the contract to manage the National Feedlot Centre, a major cattle farming facility which became embroiled in controversy after PKR alleged it abused RM181 million out of the RM250 government soft loan granted for the project.
The Auditor-General’s Report, which was released last month, pointed out that the cattle farm project was “in a mess”.
The opposition particularly picked on NFC’s move to supply the meat to luxury restaurants, splurge on luxury condominium units as well as an expensive overseas trip, on top of linking Umno leaders whom they claimed had benefitted from the company.
However, yesterday, NFC’s executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail denied the allegation and rebutted that luxurious property units served as a sound investment as it was being rented out for RM70,000 a month, among others.
Asked if the government was satisfied with NFC’s explanation, Muhyiddin said: “That is up to the public, whether to accept it or not.
“NFC has clarified it well enough and answered every question that was raised.”
As for whether it was appropriate for the authorities to go after whistleblowers, whom Salleh accused of sabotaging the company, Muhyiddin said: “That I leave it up to the authorities, I can’t comment.”
According to the audit report, NFC’s production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1 percent of the target set.
The NFC was set up three years ago to transform the cattle and beef industry, aided by satellite farms, to meet 40 percent of local beef demand by the end of last year.
The current Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, Noh Omar, had earlier said that six companies were invited to bid for the project, including international firms, but only NFC, which is run by the family members of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, stayed on.
PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, among other allegations, said that NFC paid RM26,400 for the expenses of Shahrizat, whose husband is Salleh.
He insisted that the government was “well aware of the real status” of the issue.
“We will not swallow every story that concocted by the opposition,” said Muhyiddin while speaking to reporters after officially opening the inaugural United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Day.
The NFC was awarded the contract to manage the National Feedlot Centre, a major cattle farming facility which became embroiled in controversy after PKR alleged it abused RM181 million out of the RM250 government soft loan granted for the project.
The Auditor-General’s Report, which was released last month, pointed out that the cattle farm project was “in a mess”.
The opposition particularly picked on NFC’s move to supply the meat to luxury restaurants, splurge on luxury condominium units as well as an expensive overseas trip, on top of linking Umno leaders whom they claimed had benefitted from the company.
However, yesterday, NFC’s executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail denied the allegation and rebutted that luxurious property units served as a sound investment as it was being rented out for RM70,000 a month, among others.Asked if the government was satisfied with NFC’s explanation, Muhyiddin said: “That is up to the public, whether to accept it or not.
“NFC has clarified it well enough and answered every question that was raised.”
As for whether it was appropriate for the authorities to go after whistleblowers, whom Salleh accused of sabotaging the company, Muhyiddin said: “That I leave it up to the authorities, I can’t comment.”
According to the audit report, NFC’s production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1 percent of the target set.
The NFC was set up three years ago to transform the cattle and beef industry, aided by satellite farms, to meet 40 percent of local beef demand by the end of last year.
The current Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister, Noh Omar, had earlier said that six companies were invited to bid for the project, including international firms, but only NFC, which is run by the family members of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, stayed on.
PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, among other allegations, said that NFC paid RM26,400 for the expenses of Shahrizat, whose husband is Salleh.
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