KUALA LUMPUR: Malay rights group Perkasa's chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali wants the Auditor-General to publicly clarify that the controversial National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) project is not in the “mess” that he had originally reported.
He said that NFC executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Salleh Ismail had written to the A-G about a week ago to clarify the company's matters and senior official there had privately acknowledged that the company's dealings had been above board.
He also alleged that the whistle-blower, a former NFC staff who had leaked the company's financial records to the Opposition party PKR, had been sacked for embezzling RM2.7mil from the company and would be charged in court soon.
Ibrahim Ali was speaking on behalf of Perkasa and 11 other Malay based non-governmental organisations at a press conference on Sunday.
“I want to make it clear that we are not defending NFC and will stand by the findings of investigations carried out by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission and police."
He added that they merely wanted all parties concerned to be treated fairly as the issue, as played out in the media, had led to the public having a very negative perception of NFC.
"Prior to this, we were also confused about the NFC issue but after listening to the briefing and explanation by the corporation's executive chairman himself, we're satisfied and accept the same," he said after the meeting.
Asked if he totally accepted Salleh's explanation, Ibrahim said he did so, but with reservations, as a conclusion to the issue could only be reached after investigations were completed.
He also said that it was unfortunate that Umno Wanita chief and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Sharizat Abd Jalil had been dragged into the controversy just because Salleh was her husband and her children were NFC directors.
The NFC issue hit the limelight in October after the Auditor-General's Report revealed that although the NFC had received a government loan of RM250mil to launch a large-scale cattle breeding project, it had failed to meet its target.
Instead, some of the money had been invested in two luxurious condominiums. Sunbsequently, PKR had alleged that some of the money had been used by Dr Salleh and his children for personal expenses.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak then announced that NFC's assets had been frozen pending investigations by the police and MACC.
Shahrizat has taken a three-week leave from her ministerial duties beginning Jan 12 to facilitate the probe.
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