KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 — The government defended today the RM73.64 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project, insisting that the cattle farming scheme met its target of producing 8,000 heads of cattle by 2010.Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Noh Omar told Parliament today that the ministry has already given its feedback to the Auditor-General over the NFC that was included in the 2010 report.
Reading from the report, the Tanjong Karang MP said “the total number of cattle brought into the farm was 8,016 between 2008 and 2010.”
“Of that total, 5,742 were slaughtered up to November 2010. Therefore, the target of 8,000 cattle by 2010 was met. It is a success,” he said.
The 2010 Auditor General’s report said the project — linked to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family — to create Malaysia’s “Beef Valley” had turned into a mess.
It said production in 2010 was only 3,289 heads of cattle or 41.1 per cent of the target set.
After listing the ministry’s reply, Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang said in his opinion, “the production target of 8,000 cattle for 2010 was not met as only 5,742 cattle was slaughtered.”
Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the centre is expected to produce 60,000 heads of cattle by 2015.
Noh Omar also denied that the project was awarded directly to Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd, a company owned by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat’s husband, Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail.
“There is no conflict of interest. It is just a coincidence. The government invited several companies to table their proposals in 2006. Only six companies tabled their proposals,” he told reporters later.
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