The suggestion by the police to charge National Feedlot Corporation chairperson Mohamed Salleh Ismail with criminal breach of trust (CBT) is the “best recommendation”, said PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub.

Calling on the authorities to stop delaying the matter, Salahuddin urged against “using excuses” that only the attorney-general (AG) has the powers to decide on the matter.

NONE “What’s important is the AG must act according to the facts of the case... I hope they will resolve the matter professionally,” said Salahuddin ( centre in photo ), who is also the Kubang Kerian MP.

He was responding to questions about Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) director Syed Ismail Syed Azizan's comment on Saturday.

NFC, in statement yesterday, said it was shocked and bewildered by the recommendation, saying that it was still "premature" to decide as investigations are ongoing.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak also advised against it, reminding that the decision to prosecute is solely up to the AG’s discretion.

NFC was awarded the National Feedlot Centre project meant to reduce Malaysia’s beef imports, but the Auditor-General’s Report 2010 stated that the project is very far off-target.

PKR had then exposed how the RM250 million government soft loan was used for non-cattle rearing-related matters, such as financing purchases of luxury condominiums in Kuala Lumpur, a plot of prime land in Putrajaya and a luxury car.

Mohamed Salleh, who is the husband of Women, Family and Community Development Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, as well as her children who are the company’s directors, have also been accused of mismanaging the funds for their personal purposes.

Shahrizat is also being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on her role in the award of the cattle-farming project to members of her family to be managed.

The minister has, however, denied having a hand in the matter and deflected calls demanding she resign from her post.

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