Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal has declared that members had not been forbidden to touch on the National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) issue at the party's recently-concluded general assembly.

Shafie said this showed that the Barisan Nasional practises democracy and freedom of speech, reported Berita Harian .

He also said Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who has been  implicated in the NFC fiasco should not have been asked to resign. 

"We will never prohibit anyone from raising such issues as Umno is

unlike the opposition which claims to fight democracy and freedom of speech but when it concerns their leaders or hudud, they will keep

quiet including their ulama (at their annual general assembly)."

NONE "In Umno, we allow our members to air their views before party leaders in parliament and during the general assembly," said Shafie ( left), who is also the Rural Development Minister.

The NFC issue has turned into a public scandal for Shahrizat, as the ones running it are her husband and children.

It was raised partially when a Pahang delegate Wan Amizan Wan Abdul Razak complained to party president Najib Abdul Razak that the grassroots were having problems addressing issues involving top party leaders.

"Please, top leaders, don't create more controversies. It is hard for

us at the bottom to answer. The last one is the NFC. President, please ensure our victory," said Wan Amizan from the Jerantut division.

NONE Several delegates when met during the assembly felt Shahrizat should go down to the ground to explain the issue.

Najib on his part, had indicated that the party would deal with such controversial issues.

Shahrizat and her family are badly implicated in the NFC fiasco

following complaints published in the Auditor-General's Report , where it noted  that the project is plagued with problems, with Perbadanan Menteri Besar Negri Sembilan having repossessed 3,000 acres of the 5,000 acres set aside for the project, setting off a parliamentary probe.

  Shahrizat should not resign

Shafie said despite calls by Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin, for Shahrizat to step down, he personally feels such calls on the Women, Family and Community Development Minister were  inappropriate as she is not involved in the NFC project.

"We cannot prevent people in Umno from continuously being given a chance to hold posts despite issues faced by their families. Mismanagement is another issue altogether.

The NFC issue concerns an individual...Shahrizat should not shoulder her husband's blame he told the daily.

"If that is the case then de-facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim should also resign. The mistake is not that big compared with others, hence why she should be asked to resign?" he asked.

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