An Umno divisional leader has asked National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail to come clean on the controversy involving the family-owned company and not allow it to tarnish Umno's image.

Syed Ali Alhabshee, the Cheras Umno division chief, said Mohamad Salleh's silence in the face of the allegations hurled by the opposition political parties through the blogs can confuse the people.

He said Mohamad Salleh should come out with an explanation should there be no irregularities or, if indeed there are, he should then assume responsibility because public funds are involved.

NONE In the latest entry in his blog Umnocheras.blogspot.com , Syed Ali said it would be best for Mohamad Salleh (left) to come clean and for his wife Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to step down as women, family and community development minister.

The controversy erupted after the 2010 Auditor-General's Report raised shortcomings in the NFC cattle-breeding project in Gemas and said it had failed to meet its target.

Following this, the opposition political parties highlighted alleged abuses concerning a RM250-million soft loan given by the government to NFC, and called for Shahrizat to step down.

Syed Ali said that today people are linking the NFC controversy to Umno, accusing the party of protecting fraud when this was not the case at all.

"We at the grassroots (in the divisions and branches) are at the brunt of all kinds of accusations over the NFC issue.

'Breeding cattle for Shahrizat's interests'

"Some people are saying that Umno is breeding cattle for Shahrizat's interests. How do we reply to that and who should take the responsibility?" he said.

NONE Syed Ali said it was sad that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin have become the targets of the opposition parties which are accusing them of protecting Shahrizat's ( right ) family.

He said it was unfair for Umno, Najib and Muhyiddin to be made the targets.

Syed Ali said the opposition parties are spreading news of the perceived link between Umno and the NFC in their attempt to topple the Barisan Nasional government.

He also touched on the call by Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi for Mohamad Salleh to be more aggressive in refuting the latest allegations on the NFC to stop the people from continuing to blame the government.

Mohd Puad had claimed that the latest allegations are over the use of company funds to purchase land in Putrajaya and a luxury car as well as the giving of exorbitant allowances, and added that these allegations should be answered to avoid confusion and giving a negative impact on the government.

Among those who had asked for Shahrizat's resignation from the ministerial post are Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin, Kalabakan MP Abdul Ghafur Salleh and MCA Youth deputy secretary-general Loh Chew Jun.

- Bernama

Let Shahrizat help bury Umno