Minister: New bids not a cover-up of NFC scandal

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Noh Omar rejected accusations that the call for new bids to take over the National Feedlot Centre project is an attempt to cover up the controversy.

Noh (left) insisted the objective of the project is to increase the production of beef, as such the government seeks to appoint a new company to take over the project to ensure its continuity.

“Their allegation is wrong. NFC is a government project to increase the supply of local beef.

“The government is not only involved in the project but also other programmes involving other livestock breeding and vegetable farming,” said Noh, as reported by the New Straits Times.

Yesterday, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli said the move was clearly to conceal the wrongdoings of the prime minister and other BN leaders involved in the project.

“The core issue is the role of Najib Abdul Razak in awarding the RM250 million loan to NFC (National Feedlot Corporation), although he was well-aware that NFC, the company owned by Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family members have no experience in this field.

“Najib has not responded to the issue,” said Rafizi.

The NFC was operated by family members of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat, who is under fire for the many scandals related to the company.

Documents have surfaced showing that NFC had allegedly used the government soft loan to finance investments in properties and other areas that are not related to cattle-rearing.