Police are attempting to verify how the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) obtained RM13.8 million to purchase two units of luxury condominiums at upmarket One Menerung in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

A source told the New Straits Times that according to the RM250 million soft loan agreement signed between the government and NFC, the funds were to be released only after the contractors billed the corporation, which would then submit the invoice or delivery order to the government.

“For example, if a contractor dealing with the NFC submits a bill for RM20,000, the corporation will forward the bill to a government agency, which will then disburse the money.

NONE “This is how the disbursement process was meant to be. If that is the case, police want to know where the funds for the two condominiums came from,” the source was quoted as saying.

Police investigations are also targeting the purchase of two plots of land in Presint 10, Putrajaya, for RM3.3 million, a Mercedes Benz CLS350 CGI for RM534,622 and another plot of land in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan.

“We are very interested in the acquisition of land in Putrajaya and real estate purchases.”

According to the news report, police will record statements and check documents from more than 100 contractors who had dealings with the NFC.

The source also disclosed that about a year ago, police had received reports from the NFC regarding thefts of cattle and beef and data. Six people, including employees of the corporation, were nabbed.

NFC chairperson keeping low profile

Despite mounting pressure for a full explanation on the allegations - made by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli a month ago - NFC executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail has kept a low profile.

NONE Salleh (left) told Malay daily Berita Harian that he was still studying the matter before taking further action, including taking the opposition party to court.

Declining to elaborate, Salleh replied the daily's query via a text message yesterday: “I'm currently studying Rafizi's allegations for further action.”

Asked about the action to be taken, he repeated: “I will study the allegations and take adequate action.”

Salleh is the husband of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

He has been silent after calling a press conference for selected media last month to answer some of the allegations.

Accounts of NFC, a cattle farming project funded by taxpayers, were reported to be “in a mess” in the Auditor-General’s Report 2010, released in October.

Digging deeper, PKR has since unearthed public documents that revealed NFC’s sister-company, National Livestock and Meats Corporation, had used part of the RM250 million government loan  for 'questionable' purchases.

The controversy has put Shahrizat, who is also Wanita Umno chief, under pressure within and outside Umno.

At least two of her Umno colleagues have openly urged her to step down, while several others have demanded that the couple must reply to the allegations.

Insisting that she has nothing to do with the project, Shahrizat has repeatedly refused to take any questions pertaining to the matter.

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