In wake of the renewed probe into the 1MDB scandal, the Pakatan Harapan's government has announced that it will be reopening the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) case next.
In a post uploaded on the Amanah party Facebook page, it said new Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub has said the case will be reopened "in line with the new Harapan government's manifesto to reopen cases involving (alleged) misappropriation scandals".
Salahuddin, who is also Amanah deputy president, had also told Astro Awani that he would be proposing to the cabinet that the controversial cattle-breeding and beef-supply project be continued.
He reportedly said this was because that project would be reviewed and if necessary, rebranded, as he felt it could still benefit the people.
"I need to be more objective. We come not to seek revenge, but I see that the goal of the NFC is good and pure.
"With the NFC, at least we can attain up to 30 percent (beef) meat supply for local use. I am confident the youth are interested in breeding (cattle) and as such, (the government) will assist this," Salahuddin (photo) was quoted saying in the interview last night.
He added that his ministry has already identified potential land in Negeri Sembilan, as well as in Segamat and Muar in Johor, which could be utilised should the project be continued.
The multi-million NFC was formed by the previous administration with the goal of increasing local beef production in Malaysia and making the country up to 40 percent self-sufficient in that regard.
However, it was plagued with controversy and was even investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after the 2010 auditor-general's report revealed that the NFC was far from attaining its target.
Dubbed 'Cowgate', the NFC was then accused of abusing its government loan by making purchases unrelated to the project.
Its executive chairperson Mohd Salleh Ismail is the husband of then women, family and community development minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, while her children are its directors.
In 2012, Shahrizat was cleared by the MACC of having a hand in awarding the project and the RM250 million loan to her family members.
Mohd Salleh was charged but was eventually acquitted on four charges involving RM49.7 million.
In 2018, the Sessions Court found then-Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and former Public Bank clerk Johari Mohamad guilty of leaking banking data from NFC accounts and sentenced both of them to 30 months' jail.
The court allowed a stay of execution pending appeal.
Malaysiakini is attempting to contact Shahrizat for a response. - Mkini
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