Why yet to question Shahrizat, Kit Siang asks MACC

By Clara Chooi

February 07, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 — The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang is demanding answers as to why Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has not been interrogated over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal when she is due to resume ministerial duties tomorrow.

The DAP advisor pointed out that the purpose of Shahrizat’s three-week leave was to allow investigators to determine the extent of her alleged involvement in the NFC and in order to do so, her statement would be central to the case.

The DAP advisor, in a statement today, said Shahrizat appears more “combative and truculent” since returning from her three-week leave. — file pic

Lim said the first thing Shahrizat should have done when commencing her leave was to give a full statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to enable them to clear her name.

“And if Shahrizat did not volunteer to give a statement to MACC, why didn’t MACC call her up so that it could clear Shahrizat of any corrupt wrongdoing in the NFC scandal?”

“It would appear that Shahrizat’s three-week leave is nothing but a charade,” the Ipoh Timor MP said in a statement here.

Lim, who yesterday urged the federal government to extend Shahrizat’s leave pending completion of investigations, also expressed disgust at the minister for purportedly returning from her leave more triumphant than chastened.

He said from Shahrizat’s more “combative and truculent” behaviour, it appeared as if the latter was indirectly challenging both the Opposition and her detractors within Umno to a “battle royale” to force her into resignation.

Lim drew links between Shahrizat’s confidence and a recent statement she made when commenting on the scandal — “which Umno leader does not have a problem”.

Describing Shahrizat’s words as “defiant but eloquent”, Lim said the minister was likely feeling triumphant as she felt she was in safe company and would enjoy immunity and impunity for her role in the NFC.

“Can every Cabinet minister publicly declare that he or she does not have similar problems as Shahrizat and does not have any next-of-kin, whether husband, wife, son or daughter, who has taken massive government loans for whatever projects which were misused for purposes completely unrelated to the loan disbursement,” he asked.

Lim said tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting would be crucial to Shahrizat’s fate as ministers should decide whether to extend her leave as well as how to explain the NFC scandal.

He asked: “Is there any Cabinet minister tomorrow who dares to ask Shahrizat to fully clear herself of any wrongdoing, whether abuse of power or conflict of interest, in the NFC scandal before she resumes her duty as Minister for Women, Family and Community Development?”