NFC boss grazes for new farm, PKR puzzled

PKR has urged the government to explain how NFCorp is allowed to look for a new farm in Kazakhstan when the project was supposed to be re-tendered.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government must explain how National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) executive chairman Mohamed Salleh Ismail is able to run his business with his accounts frozen, said PKR.

Speaking at a press conference in Parliament today, PKR women chief Zuraida Kamaruddin said on March 27, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Noh Omar had told the Dewan Rakyat that NFCorp’s accounts were not only frozen but the feedlot project itself would be re-tendered.

“If that’s the case, why is Salleh going to Kazakhstan in May to find a location for a new farm?” asked the Ampang MP.

In March, Salleh had claimed trial to two counts of committing breach of trust and violating the Companies Act 1965 amounting to RM49.7 million.

On April 14, it was reported that Sessions Court judge SM Komathy had granted Salleh’s application for a return of his passport.

In his affidavit, Salleh, the husband of Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, told the court that he needed his passport to travel to Singapore between April 23 and 26 to ensure the smooth operation of business there.

He also said that he had to fly to Mecca to perform umrah from April 28 to May 5, Kazakhtan between May 5 and 11 and finally to London from May 11 to 15 to visit his daughter Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabeda who was studying in the United Kingdom.

Zuraida called upon the government to explain the matter as it involved taxpayers’ money.

“Although the case is in court now, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure such cases are dealt with in a fair and just manner,” she said.