PKR has vowed to shine the spotlight on the RM73.64 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project unless answers emerge regarding its dismal achievements.

The project was described as being in “a mess” in the Auditor-General’s 2010 Report.

NONE The project, based in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, is primarily aimed at reducing local demand for beef imports.

According to the report, however, the NFC was able to slaughter only 5,742 cows between 2008 and last November, whereas the target set for the project in 2010 alone was 8,000 slaughters.

For 2010, the number of cows slaughtered was only 3,289, less than half of the year's target.

orange book forum klscah 250111 rafizi ramli In a joint statement, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli (left) and Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin also queried the alleged interests of a cabinet minister, and the minister’s spouse and children in the project.

Rafizi said that, if deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin - who was minister of agriculture and agro-based industries at the time - or the other minister implicated do not come forward to address the allegations, PKR will visit the NFC and hold a press conference there to expose the affair.

Malaysiakini contacted NFC for comments, but the company had yet to reply at the time of writing.

Project shrunk, cash deferred

Rafizi estimated that, based a a survey at the site, the company was merely fulfilling 0.6 percent of the country's beef demand amounting to 162,357 tonnes in 2010, far short of the 40 percent target in the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

NONE The auditor-general noted that the project is plagued with problems, with Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan Pemerbadanan having taken back 3,000 acres of the 5,000 acres set aside for the project.

Also, NFC only received RM6.52 million of the RM13 million grant promised, while only RM134.72 million of its RM250 million soft loan was released to the company.

This, the report states, was because the Finance Ministry had deferred disbursement until a ‘viability and business model project" study is completed.

A report on the study is being checked after UPM Holdings submitted it to the ministry on April 5 this year.

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