PKR: Bring all involved in NFC scandal to justice

By Lisa J. Ariffin

March 11, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 — PKR stressed today Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s resignation from Cabinet does not bring closure to the RM250 million National Feedlot Centre scandal and demanded “everyone responsible be brought to justice”.

The party’s strategic director Rafizi Ramli (picture), who has made a slew of exposes on the cattle farming project awarded to the Wanita Umno chief’s family, insisted Datuk Seri Najib Razak must ensure those accountable be charged for abuse of public funds.

“It has never been about personal attacks. The bigger issue here is the RM250 million government loan. The public needs to know it was spent on all unrelated investments.

“It is about the prime minister’s political will to combat corruption (in his government),” he toldThe Malaysian Insider.

But he added the “public should give credit to her for doing the right thing. It is better late than never.”

PKR vice president N. Surendran also warned that Shahrizat’s announcement she will resign as women, family and community development minister when her senatorship ends on April 8 was “another attempt to deceive the public”.

“We are also shocked that Shahrizat will hold on to her position as Wanita Umno chief. This proves that Umno does not have the will, inclination or moral authority to take action against leaders guilty of wrongdoing.

“Is it because so many of the current Umno leaders are themselves tainted? Najib and the relevant authorities must also ensure that action is taken against all those responsible for the huge loss of public monies in the NFC scandal,” he said.

The NFCorp, tasked with running the national cattle-farming project, is chaired by Shahrizat’s husband, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail. Their three children are directors in the company.

PKR has made several claims of abuse of the federal loan involving over RM62 million in land, property and expenses unrelated to cattle farming.

The NFC hit the headlines following last year’s Auditor-General’s Report, and has continued to hog the limelight after it was linked to Shahrizat and her family.

The opposition has alleged that other than Shahrizat and her family, other Umno leaders including Najib and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were culpable as they were involved in the award of the project to the family of a Cabinet member in 2006.