MC - Arrogant DPM tells public: Up to you what you wish to think of NFC

As Umno leaders, one after another, trooped out to defend Wanita chief Shahrizat Jalil, with many shortsightedly going to extent of tarnishing their own credibility and reputation, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin - also the Umno deputy president - outdid them all.

He was not at all bothered what everyday Malaysians think about the RM250 million NFC financial debacle involving a national beef production project and accusations that it had been corruptly granted to Shahrizat's family.

“We will leave it to the people to decide whether to accept the NFC’s explanation or not because the NFC has explained each issue that has surfaced,” Muhyiddin told reporters at a press conference.

“For us, the government, we know the truth. We don’t buy stories made up by the Opposition."

read more at Malaysia-Chronicle.com

TMI - RM70k rental for cattle condo ‘unbelievable’, say property gurus

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — The reported RM70,000 in monthly rental for not one but two condominiums owned by the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has property consultants and real estate agents shaking their heads in disbelief.

The experts say that the highest rental that can be expected for even the penthouse at Bangsar’s One Menerung condominium is about RM24,000 per month.

They also point out that even if the tenants were renting the biggest condominium unit at One Menerung, which is between 6,000-7,000 square feet, the tenants would be paying least RM10 per sq ft, which is double or more the rate at KLCC’s Binjai On The Park, currently KL’s most expensive condominium address.
The NFC also said yesterday that the rental yield for the two condominiums had hit 12.9 per cent, which is far in excess of the industry benchmark of three per cent or less.

“Who is the tenant?” asked one veteran property consultant. “It is unbelievable. To get RM70,000 for a condominium is unheard of. Usually when renters pay more than RM15,000 they expect to get a whole luxury bungalow.”

He pointed out that multinationals were very unlikely to have such a huge budget for rent and wealthy Arab businessmen would prefer to buy their own place rather than rent.

Real estate agents for One Menerung contacted by The Malaysian Insider said that it was “not possible” to get RM70,000 in monthly rent and that it would be difficult to find anyone willing to pay even RM4 a sq ft.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - Pak Lah defends Shahrizat in cattle-farm scandal

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 — Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil need not quit the Cabinet to take the heat for her family’s alleged mess of the RM250 million National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) cattle-farm scandal.

Abdullah, who was prime minister from October 2003 to April 2009, waded into the controversy today to defend the Wanita Umno chief after she came under attack from a partyman.

Kinabatangan MP Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin had demanded the senator quit the Cabinet and take responsibility for her family’s alleged mishandling of the national project.

“Ask the individual concerned. What’s it got to do with Shahrizat? It’s her husband… Shahrizat’s not involved, so don’t ask her,” Abdullah (picture) told reporters.

“If Shahrizat were the CEO then sure [you can ask her] but right now she’s not involved and it is very unfair to label her as involved,” said the ex-PM, popularly known as Pak Lah, echoing Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Shahrizat, who has headed the Women, Family and Community Ministry since 2001, is married to NFC executive director Datuk Mohamad Salleh Ismail. Their three children run the cattle business.

Allegations of financial impropriety have dogged the company owned by Shahrizat’s family after the Auditor-General revealed last month that the NFC had failed to meet production targets for 2010 despite benefiting from a RM134.72 million soft loan from the government.

The Malaysian Insider understands the NFC started operations in 2008, during Abdullah’s administration. At that time, Muhyiddin was the agriculture and agro-based minister.

The Auditor-General’s Report also criticised the NFC, pointing out that it was now “in a mess”.

read more at The MalaysianInsider.com

TMI - Kit Siang wants Najib to pull RM181m NFC loan

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today urged Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step in and recall the RM181 million lent to Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family for a cattle farming project after it was revealed RM10 million was spent on a luxury condominium.
“Najib should intervene in the RM10 million ‘condominium for cattle’ scandal by recalling the RM181 million loan to [the National Feedlot Centre], which was not used for the purpose of cattle production.

“As shocking as the revelation about the RM10 million ‘cattle for condominium’ scandal is the self-righteous statement by the Minister for Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Datuk Noh Omar aiding and abetting a gross misappropriation of public funds,” he said in a statement today.

Allegations of financial impropriety have dogged the company owned by Women, Family and Community Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s husband and children after the Auditor-General revealed last month that the NFC had failed to meet production targets for 2010, despite benefiting from a RM134.72 million soft loan from the government.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had publicly defended the NFC’s purchase of a RM10 million condominium in upscale Bangsar as a “strategic” investment.

Citing Noh, Lim today said something “is very wrong” about the “set conditions” imposed by the technical committee chaired by the Veterinary Department and the Finance Ministry for the release of the loans to promote cattle production that it could result in “excess funds” leading to the purchase of the luxury condominium in upscale Bangsar.

Noh previously claimed that once NFC received money from the government, it was considered the company’s private funds and the government had no say as to how it would be used. He also denied the purchase of the condominium.

He said a total of RM250 million was earmarked for the NFC project and placed in a special loan account (SLA) in Maybank that was controlled by the Finance Ministry. RM181 million from that account has already been disbursed to NFC based on its claims, he explained.

“If the money has been paid to NFC after fulfilling set conditions, the government cannot control what NFC does with it, including purchasing the said condominium, because it is then considered the company’s money.


read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - Kit Siang: Shouldn’t someone go to jail in cattle farm scandal?

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang asked today if anyone will be jailed over the alleged financial abuse in a publicly-funded cattle farm owned and run by a federal minister’s family.

The opposition leader’s comments come in the wake of last week’s public debate on the National Feedlot Centre (NFC), operated by Women, Family and Community Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s husband and children.

Allegations of financial impropriety have dogged the project after the Auditor-General revealed last month that the NFC had failed to meet production targets for 2010, despite benefiting from a RM134.72 million soft loan from the government.

“The prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak or his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was agriculture minister when the NFC project was first mooted and approved, should answer this question in the minds of most Malaysians: ‘Shouldn’t someone go to jail?’” Lim said in a statement today.

He said the question was uppermost in the minds of Malaysians after Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin defended the NFC’s purchase of a RM10 million upscale Bangsar condominium as a “strategic” investment.

Lim (picture) also questioned the inaction of the national anti-graft agency in probing claims that millions in federal funds meant for the cattle farm had been used for other purposes, in violation of strict loan conditions.

“If the cast of personalities involved in the NFC scandal had all involved Pakatan Rakyat leaders and their family members... there is no doubt that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) would have swooped in on the case from day one,” he said.

Shahrizat’s husband and children should come forward to clear the air given the numerous contradicting statements issued in defence of the NFC by Umno leaders like Khairy, Lim added.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - RM10m cattle condo was an investment, says Khairy

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Khairy Jamaluddin savaged PKR today for claiming corruption in the purchase of a RM10 million Bangsar condominium by a federally-funded cattle project owned by a minister’s family.
The Umno Youth chief claimed the condo was bought as an investment when the National Meat and Livestocks Corporation (NMLC), a company wholly-owned by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s family, found itself with excess funds.

Khairy, who has appeared as Shahrizat’s staunch defender over the National Feedlot Centre controversy, said NMLC was left with surplus funds that when the government ran out of funds to develop satellite cattle farms.

It then decided on real estate investment as a means to put the excess liquidity to work.

He did not, however, say if the company was authorised to make the property investment.

“Should they have left the money in the current account, which does not have a high yield, while waiting for the satellite farms or should they have invested the money while waiting,” said Khairy.

“The management made a decision that the best return on investment would have been from real estate.”

Khairy added that the condo has since been rented out and also appreciated in value since it was purchased. He did not, however, specify the rental yield.

Many real estate experts have concluded that Kuala Lumpur is facing a glut of luxury properties, with rental yields falling as much as 50 per cent in some cases.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said yesterday the luxury apartment at One Menerung, Bangsar, was recorded by NFC, a cattle farming project managed by the minister’s family, as part of a RM83 million “loan” to NMLC.

Today, Khairy also slammed PKR strategic director Rafizi Rami and accused him of lying when the latter said beef from the feedlot project was sold only to elite restaurants.

According to the Rembau MP, beef from the project was also sold to Carrefour, Giant and wet markets.

“Most of the rest of the cow are sold in hypermarkets and wet markets and also enjoy this discount that Rafizi so desperately wants to link only to Meatworks,” said Khairy. “So this talk of ‘a subsidy for the elites who have expensive taste buds’ is absolute nonsense on multiple levels.”

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - PKR claims NFC funded RM10m Shahrizat family condo

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — The National Feedlot Centre (NFC) paid for a RM10 million condominium belonging to National Meat and Livestocks Corporation (NMLC), a company wholly-owned by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s family, PKR said today.

Its secretary-general, Saifuddin Nasution, said the luxury apartment at One Menerung, Bangsar, was recorded by NFC, a cattle farming project managed by the minister’s family, as part of a RM83 million “loan” to NMLC.

“They said the RM250 million loan for the project was in a tightly-controlled account. Is the condominium for cows to live in?” the Machang MP told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had said yesterday that funds from the soft loan could only be drawn after NFC tables a working paper and is approved by the finance ministry.

Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Noh Omar also said that only RM135 million had been drawn by the NFC as the funds have been placed in an escrow account.

PKR also alleged on Tuesday that over RM84 million was siphoned off from NFC to companies controlled by Shahrizat’s husband, Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and her children, Izran Mohamad Salleh and Izmir Mohamad Salleh.


read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

FMT - Khairy, Saifuddin spar over cattle project

KUALA LUMPUR: The controversial National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project continues to draw flak as members of the opposition and the government sparred over the matter.

Last week, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar defended the project, saying it is a success as it met its target of producing 8,000 head of cattle by 2010.

PKR promptly hit out at Noh, saying that under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the NFC farm in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, alone should have slaughtered 60,000 head of cattle a year.

Earlier today, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin jumped to the defence of the NFC project, saying that the Attorney-General’s Report stated that the project had met its objective.

Khairy, the Rembau MP, also criticised the opposition for making “wild allegations”.

He cited an allegation that the farm in Gemas was allocated 5,000 hectares of land when in reality it was allocated only 1,500 hectares (which was a revised estimate by the ministry).

“Besides, the 1,500ha was leased from the Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Incorporated,” Khairy told reporters at the Parliament lobby, adding that PKR had got its facts wrong.

But PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution today pointed out that PKR obtained its figure (5,000ha) from the ministry’s website.


read more at FreeMalaysiaToday.com

TMI - Wanita PKR tells Shahrizat to quit over cattle farm fiasco

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — Wanita PKR told Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil today to leave politics if the minister truly cared about Wanita Umno, after the Auditor-General said a cattle farm run by her family using public funds is “in a mess”.

The Wanita Umno chief said yesterday attacks over the RM74 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC) were a political agenda by her PKR counterpart Zuraida Kamaruddin to “destroy Wanita Umno”.

But Zuraida, who is Ampang MP, told reporters today the minister of women, family and community development “should be above the rest of her Barisan Nasional (BN) and show that women have more credibility and integrity”.

“The honourable thing for her to do is to resign from government and leave politics given that there will be more exposés on this scandalous project.

“Only her resignation can save the honour of Wanita Umno members who have become embroiled in this scandal,” she said.

Zuraida had claimed that the NFC failed despite being given a soft loan of RM250 million and a 5,000-acre plot of land. Her party is to lodge a report over the matter with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) later this morning.
The PKR lawmaker also said she “sympathised with her (Shahrizat). But it is my duty as an elected representative to raise issues concerning public funds.”

“It is just too bad that it is Shahrizat. But as her political career only has ‘sisa-sisa (scraps)’” left, she should withdraw,” she added.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - Shahrizat says family works hard, doesn’t deserve attacks

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today attacks against her over the RM74 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC) are a political agenda to “destroy Wanita Umno.”

The minister of women, family and community development told reporters that her family, who runs the national cattle-farming project, “don’t deserve the things said by the Opposition because they work very hard.”

“This is a political agenda by the Opposition to weaken Wanita Umno. But we are not that easily destroyed.

“I am ashamed that there is a Malaysian woman like the Wanita PKR chief,” the senator said, referring to Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin who had claimed that the NFC had failed despite being given a soft loan of RM250 million and a 5,000-acre plot of land.

PKR also alleged yesterday that over RM84 million was siphoned off from NFC to companies controlled by Shahrizat’s husband, Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and her children, Izran Mohamad Salleh and Izmir Mohamad Salleh.

The Auditor-General’s Report released last month had criticised the NFC, pointing out that it was now “in a mess”.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

FMT - Ultimatum to Shahrizat: Answer charges or else

GEMAS: PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli claims he has more information than already revealed about Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s involvement in the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) and has threatened to expose them unless she responds to allegations made in recent days.

Rafizi visited the NFC farm here yesterday, a day after he alleged in a press conference that most of the beef produced by the centre is supplied to luxury restaurants owned by the family of Shahrizat, the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development.

Agriculture Minister Noh Omar had earlier confirmed that members of her family manage the luxury restaurants.

“We want to know how much exactly was spent for this farm,” Rafizi said after his visit.

“How many head of cattle are bred here and how many are slaughtered per day?”
He posed the questions in front of more than 70 people outside the farm. Most of them were journalists and publicity officials of opposition parties.

“Based on the information I have, they are supposed to breed 60,000 cows per year but I learnt that only 8, 000 cows were produced over a period of three years” he said.

Rafizi was accompanied on his visit by five Negeri Sembilan state assemblymen—Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani (PAS-Paroi), M Ravi (PKR-Port Dickson), Aminuddin Harun (PKR-Sikamat), P Gunasekaran (DAP-Senawang) and Ng Chin Tsai (DAP-Temiang). Also in his delegation was Fariz Musa, the chief coordinator of Jingga 13, a PKR-linked NGO.

read more at FreeMalaysiaToday.com

TMI - Pakatan vows to maintain pressure over cattle project

GEMAS, Nov 3 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) vowed today not to let up in its attacks over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) until Putrajaya admits that the RM250 million project is a failure.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli said the opposition intends to turn the NFC into a national talking point as it was a prime example of how taxpayers’ monies had been misused to enrich those in power.


Rafizi (centre) speaks to a NFC worker through the gates about letting a PR delegation inspect the centre. — Picture by Jack Ooi
“There are a lot people in Gemas who can raise cattle. Why were people from Kuala Lumpur brought in to raise cattle, (to the point where) the cattle died?
“RM250 million, you should have given it to as many farmers as possible, not one company,” he told reporters outside the main gates of the NFC here.

Rafizi, with PR assemblymen Aminuddin Harun (Sikamat), Ravi Munusamy (Port Dickson), P. Gunasekaran (Senawang), Mohamad Taufek Abdul Ghani (Paroi) and Ng Chin Tsai (Temiang) had earlier tried to enter the NFC.

TMI - Najib defends cattle project linked to minister’s family

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has dismissed allegations of abuse of power in the federal government’s RM250 million soft loan to a company owned by Cabinet minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil’s husband that operates the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said today in a written reply to a parliamentary question that the company — Agroscience Sdn Bhd — had been selected to operate the NFC project to create Malaysia’s “Beef Valley” after a tender process involving five other companies.

The Auditor-General’s Report released last week had criticised the project, and pointed out that it was now “in a mess”.

It said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1 per cent of the target set.

Yesterday, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Datuk Seri Noh Omar told Parliament the NFC project was a success, insisting that the cattle farming scheme met its target of producing 8,000 head of cattle by 2010.


read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - PKR disputes government claim, says cattle project is a failure

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — PKR revealed today what it said was proof the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) had only met under five per cent of its annual production target, refuting Putrajaya’s claim that the RM73.64 million scheme was a success.

Backing the Auditor-General’s assertion that the project had turned into a mess, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli (picture) claimed the NFC’s original target was to produce 60,000 head of cattle annually.

When declaring the project a “success” in Parliament yesterday, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar had said the cattle farming scheme only produced 8,016 head of cattle in three years from 2008, amounting to 2,672 a year, which is just 4.45 per cent of the 60,000 target.

“Yet, the minister declared the project a success. He clearly failed to refer to these details. We are not cows, we can count,” Rafizi told a press conference in Parliament here.


read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com

TMI - Putrajaya insists national cattle project a success

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.

read more at TheMalaysianInsider.com