The National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has blamed the federal government for creating obstacles which caused a shortfall in the company's cattle production.
This was raised in NFC chairperson Mohd Salleh Ismail's press release today in response to the federal government's stated intention to take legal action against the company.
The federal government was quoted stating in the Auditor-General's Report 2011 that it is studying"appropriate action" against the NFC, including ways to recover a RM250 million soft loan for the company.
In denying any wrongdoing, Mohd Salleh urged the attorney-general "to be fair" and must first investigate Agriculture Ministry which the company blames for causing problems to its production.
"It is requested that the attorney-general should also investigate the prior act of default by the Agricultural Ministry which began with the deferment of the construction of the export quality abattoir (EQA) capable of slaughtering 350 head of cattle a day.
"This deferment had caused production number shortfalls, undue delays in the construction of ancillary facilities such as the feedmill and bio gas plant, and the deferment of the entrepreneur development programme (EDP) - all of which are absolutely dependent on an EQA," said Mohd Salleh.
This was raised in NFC chairperson Mohd Salleh Ismail's press release today in response to the federal government's stated intention to take legal action against the company.
In denying any wrongdoing, Mohd Salleh urged the attorney-general "to be fair" and must first investigate Agriculture Ministry which the company blames for causing problems to its production.
"It is requested that the attorney-general should also investigate the prior act of default by the Agricultural Ministry which began with the deferment of the construction of the export quality abattoir (EQA) capable of slaughtering 350 head of cattle a day.
"This deferment had caused production number shortfalls, undue delays in the construction of ancillary facilities such as the feedmill and bio gas plant, and the deferment of the entrepreneur development programme (EDP) - all of which are absolutely dependent on an EQA," said Mohd Salleh.
NFC: Don't be swayed by opposition
He added that the attorney-general should not be swayed by arguments raised by Pakatan Rakyat and should conduct investigations based on issues first raised in the Auditor-General's Report 2010.
Previously, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar had admitted to Parliament that some of the government's commitments to the NFC, such as the large-scale abattoir, had yet to be fulfilled.
Previously, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar had admitted to Parliament that some of the government's commitments to the NFC, such as the large-scale abattoir, had yet to be fulfilled.
Following the release of the Auditor-General's Report 2010, NFC found itself in a middle of a storm over its failure to meet production targets.
PKR followed up on the matter by digging up documents which showed that the NFC had channeled a large portion of the RM250 million soft loan into investments not related to the cattle rearing business.
These items luxury condominiums, prime land in Putrajaya, arestaurant businesses and attempts to build a supermarket in Singapore.
NFC has justified the use of the funds, statint that it had parked funds in real estates to ensure returns while waiting for the abattoir to be built.
It added that the sister-companies are part of its distribution chain and supported the core business.
Mohd Salleh has since been charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust and contravening the Companies Act 1965, while PKR's strategy director Rafizi Ramli faces a charge of illegally disclosing bank documents.
PKR followed up on the matter by digging up documents which showed that the NFC had channeled a large portion of the RM250 million soft loan into investments not related to the cattle rearing business.
These items luxury condominiums, prime land in Putrajaya, arestaurant businesses and attempts to build a supermarket in Singapore.
NFC has justified the use of the funds, statint that it had parked funds in real estates to ensure returns while waiting for the abattoir to be built.
It added that the sister-companies are part of its distribution chain and supported the core business.
Mohd Salleh has since been charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust and contravening the Companies Act 1965, while PKR's strategy director Rafizi Ramli faces a charge of illegally disclosing bank documents.
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