Cops to open probe on cattle condo scandal

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — The National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) is being investigated for cheating or criminal breach of trust over its purchase of two luxury condominium units here using government funds, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said today.

“We are looking into the report and need time to investigate.

“We will call those involved to assist in investigations. We urge people to stop speculating and allow us to carry out investigations without any unnecessary pressure,” Ismail was quoted as saying in Star Online.

A public complaint alleging corruption in the purchase of the multimillion ringgit property in Bangsar was first lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) but the agency later passed the case to the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) in Bukit Aman, saying the offence comes under the jurisdiction of the police.

The NFC, which is being run by the family of Cabinet minister Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, first became embroiled in controversy when its operations made it into the pages of the Auditor-General’s Report for 2010.

The report, released last month, had criticised the RM250 million federally-funded cattle project, pointing out that it was now “in a mess”. It further said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1 per cent of the target set.

Putrajaya has steadfastly defended the project since then but numerous exposes by PKR, including the controversial purchase of two units at Bangsar’s luxurious One Menerung condominium, forced the company to break its silence yesterday.

NFC executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, Shahrizat’s husband, held a special press conference to selected mainstream media organisations at the centre in Gemas, where he moved to dispute all allegations against his company.

According to several media reports today, Mohamad Salleh defended the NFC’s purchase of the condominium units, saying it was a sound investment, and claimed the feedlot project had surpassed its production target, disputing the federal audit’s findings.

He also claimed the condominium purchase had yielded RM900,000 in rental and developer rebates in the first year alone, amounting to 12.9 per cent of returns in its investment.

If the money had been kept in fixed deposit, he said, it would have only earned the NFC 2.6 per cent to 3.25 per cent returns.

Mohamad Salleh is also mulling legal action against his accusers, namely PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli.

Both Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition lawmakers have called for heads to roll over the scandal, with the latter group urging Putrajaya to axe Shahrizat from the Cabinet.

By By Clara Chooi MInsider