Cheras Umno division head Syed Ali Alhabshee today accused Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil of using the party's women's wing as a 'shield' from the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) controversy.

In a the Cheras Umno blog today, Syed Ali said Shahrizat must ask if she was sincere in pursuing Umno's struggle or was she more interested in safeguarding her government position.

NONE "Why is it so difficult to resign as a minister? There is no need to go on leave or blame others that supposedly there is an agenda to bring her down.

"Do not fabricate stories that people want to bring her down, the reality is she should not use Umno Wanita as a shield to to protect her weakness and mess," Syed Ali ( right ) was quoted as saying.

The shield remark might be a reference to how Shahrizat often claim that her opponents were attacking her to undermine the 1 million strong Wanita Umno wing.

Shahrizat, the current Women, Family and Community Development Minister, is being linked with the NFC fiasco because her family was awarded the project back in 2007.

'People will judge Umno'

However, the Auditor-General's Report 2010 said that all is not well with the company which is missing its cattle production targets.

Critics also point to the fact that the NFC had mishandled part of a RM250 million government soft loan on luxury properties.

According Syed Ali, Shahrizat's refusal to resign is reflecting badly on Umno.

"Until when will we walk the talk, Umno says it opposes all forms of corruption, the rakyat is observing the government's sincerity," he said.

The comments come two days after Shahrizat returned from overseas and immediately declaring that she would not step down.

She is expected to return to her ministerial studies on Wednesday after going on three weeks leave to facilitate the investigation into NFC.