YOURSAY ‘Why point the finger at everyone and everything else? Is this latest blame game another attempt to muddle up the core issue of suspected CBT?

NFC blames Agro Ministry for shortfall

Brahman: It is agreed that the auditor-general should investigate with a fine tooth comb all aspects of NFC (National Feedlot Corporation), especially whether, on top of the RM250 million loan, was there anymore money spent in kind by the Agriculture Ministry for the development of the feedlot, such as the road leading to the farm, the water catchment system and the Napier grass planting.

The delay in an export quality abattoir (EQA) is immaterial as the loan was given for the development of a feedlot so that the country would be partially self-sufficient of beef (God only knows, as all the cattle are still bought from Australia and not bred in Malaysia).

The money was not given for NFC to export its beef. If that was the original idea, then NFC should not be given any loan from the government.

It looks as if NFC could not even produce enough beef profitably for a home market, with a shortage of freshly slaughtered beef, let alone compete with other beef-producing countries in the export market. The NFC chairperson is obviously running another red herring.

Boiling Mud: Even if the allegation of the Agriculture Ministry deferring the construction of the export quality abattoir was true, there was no excuse to divert the loan monies to other purposes outside the scope and intention of the loan.

Why point the finger at everyone and everything else like a spoilt child crying wolf? Is this latest blame game another attempt to muddle up the core issue of suspected criminal breach of trust (CBT)?

Phee Boon Jin: The objectives is to rear and raise cows, so don't tell us without an abattoir you can't raise cows.

Odin: You have RM250 million at your disposal. If you have been promised an abattoir but none is forthcoming, what should you do? You pester the other party to build one.

What if that party is recalcitrant or is unable to oblige? You build it yourself. Surely, an abattoir cannot cost very much. In any case, you need it, and it will be your company's asset.

But you did not do any of that. Instead, you have used the loan to finance activities and purchases that have nothing to do with the purpose for which it (the loan) was granted.

In addition, you have displayed a typical bumiputera style of going into business, i.e., showing off even before breaking even and never mind making profits.

Imagine such things as paying each of the young punks totally clueless about the business a monthly salary of RM20,000 to RM30,000, and having an office in an upmarket section of Kuala Lumpur.

Anonymous$&@?: Just yesterday ex-minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was saying that PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli was ungrateful for biting the hand that helped him. Today, the NFC is blaming the Agriculture Ministry for its woes. What a turnaround show of "appreciation".

Can this also mean that she is sending out a warning to those who are "involved" that if she goes down, she will also make sure that those "involved" in Cowgate will also go down with her?

It looks like the government will be covering up all the dung that hit the fan.

Yap CS : If you have not produced the cows, why is the slaughterhouse so important? It is like asking for palm oil refinery when you have yet oil-producing palms.

HYL: So this is another thing that our ex-women, family and community development minister and her family can do besides taking other people's money - blaming others for their woes and misfortunes.

Shahrizat really has got a cow-hide that is so tough and thick that she still thinks that she is right.

I think the next person they will blame will be PM Najib Abdul Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor, and then former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I think the whole cabinet will get the blame sooner or later.

KiaSi-SiamSai: Hello, go back to basics. Why was the money transferred from holdings to subsidiary and to buy condominiums?

Why were the condos bought under individual name of family members? Why did the board of directors approve this purchase, on what purpose and for what business? Is the purchase in line with their main objectives of the feedlot project?

NH Gong: Who comes first? Shahrizat or Umno or the cow? Just give me the cow and you can have the other two, thank you.

Unspin: If the export quality abattoir was not ready, why was NFC allowed to draw down the RM250 million soft loan in full? Who approved the loan draw down before this condition was met?

If investing in real estate was to ensure returns while waiting for the abattoir to be built, why were the properties parked under the names of companies owned directly by NFC chairperson Mohd Salleh Ismail and his children?

Lichwee : The deputy agriculture and agro-based industries minister is too busy looking up Pakatan Rakyat's skirts, trying to find issues instead of doing the his real job. Good one, Chua Tee Yong. Like father, like son.

Anonymous$&@?: Even so, it does not mean that NFC can transfer money to third-party private companies. Mohd Salleh, I hope you did not get accounting tips from Chua Jr.

Opah: No wonder NFC failed. Any sensible businessman, faced with the burden of repaying a RM250 million loan, would have bred and raised as many cows as possible.

Finding an abattoir to slaughter the grown cows would not be an issue at all. Mohd Salleh's answer shows that he did not have any intention to repay the loan. He considered the loan as his money, to spend and invest as he liked.

Ngecui: So very true. How can you blame NFC? They are doing so much for the cows. And the federal government cannot even build an abattoir.

So, how long must they have to wait? In the meantime, they have to take care of the cows so the cows don't merajuk (sulk). It is not an easy life when you are dealing with cows.

That's why they have to buy condominiums, restaurants in all high-end areas. Because if not, the cows will merajuk and don't come to the abattoir, an even bigger problem.

So agriculture minister, you are the only one to be blamed for because of you, they have to spend the RM250 million. Nasib baik (lucky) there is good governance in NFC.

We, Malaysians, are very sad that the cows are left without anyone to look after them. Luckily, there is NFC. If not, I can only imagine the worst.

Thank you, Mohd Salleh, for the explicit reasoning. The country needs more smart people like you, especially in the government. Someone who really has heart for the cows.

Spirit of Malaya: As a senior banker in the lending industry, there's only one word to describe the explanations and mitigation provided by the NFC chairperson - what a load of crap!

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