KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has clarified that it had referred the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) “cattle condo” scandal to the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) director and not the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
In a statement late yesterday, the graft-busting agency confirmed that the report, alleging corruption in the NFC’s controversial purchase of multimillion ringgit condominium units, was delivered to the CCID director on Wednesday.
“MACC confirms that the report received pertaining to NFC had been sent to the director of commercial crime on November 16... the report was directed to commercial crime director and not to the IGP,” the MACC corporate communication head said in the statement.
The MACC spokesperson reiterated the case would not be handled by the agency as it involved an offence under the Penal Code, which comes under the jurisdiction of the police.
“The report shall not be investigated by MACC under the MACC Act 2009 as advised,” the spokesperson added.
Federal police chief Tan Sri Ismail Omar denied yesterday that the police had received any report on the NFC scandal from the MACC.
“So far, I’ve not received anything yet,” he told reporters at a function in Shah Alam.
He had initially appeared surprised when asked to comment on the matter, pointing out that the case should be handled by the MACC.
MACC said on Monday it would not probe the controversial RM10 million purchase of a condominium by the federally-funded NFC project, claiming it was a case for the police to handle as it involved an offence under the Penal Code.
The NFC owners have also clarified the purchase only cost RM6.9 million.
In a statement, the agency said it had already referred the case to the police, adding that this was in line with advice from the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board to only investigate offences under the MACC Act.
PKR was first to claim of corruption in the purchase of the multimillion ringgit condominium belonging to the National Meat and Livestocks Corporation (NMLC), a company wholly-owned by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s family.
Its secretary-general, Saifuddin Nasution, said the luxury apartment at One Menerung, Bangsar, was recorded by NFC, a cattle-farming project managed by the minister’s family, as part of a RM83 million “loan” to NMLC.
But Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin savaged the party for the allegations, claiming the condo was bought as an investment when the NMLC found itself with excess funds when the government ran out of funds to develop satellite cattle farms.
The Auditor-General’s Report released last month had criticised the NFC, pointing out that it was now “in a mess”. The report said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1 per cent of the target set.
But Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar responded on October 31 that the project was a success and had met its targets.
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