The National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has yet to negotiate repayment of its RM250 million soft loan from the government, said its chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail.

He told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that this is because he is still busy dealing with his defamation suit against Pandan MP Mohd Rafizi Ramili and the online news portal Malaysiakini .

During the proceedings in the first half of today, Rafizi’s lawyer Razlan Hadri Zulkifli continued his cross-examination since yesterday on Salleh.

Razlan asked Salleh about the contents of a letter that informed the latter that the government loan has been withdrawn last year.

Razlan: What did the letter say?

Salleh: It has been withdrawn.

Razlan: And that’s it? There is no need for you to repay the money?

Salleh: I have not negotiated because I am busy sorting this out first.

Razlan: I see. You have not repaid because you are busy sorting this out.

Salleh: We have paid - I’ve told you - for two years.

Razlan: All right, you have paid some but have not paid all. Can you put it at that?

Salleh: Your client caused my company to collapse. How can I pay all?

Salleh’s cross-examination before judicial commissioner Azizul Azmi Adnan will continue later today after lunch break.

They are suing Rafizi ( photo ) over the statements he made during a March 7, 2012 press conference, which was reported on the day by the news portal.

Cleared of CBT charges

Meanwhile during today's hearing, Razlan contested Salleh's testimony that Rafizi's press conference had led to various consequences to him, his family and his business.

These include the withdrawal of the government loan causing the business to grind to a halt, in him being charged in court, the freezing of bank accounts, and the resignation of his wife Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who was the women's minister at the time of the scandal.

Salleh has since been cleared of charges of criminal breach of trust.

In a series of questions, Razlan queried whether Salleh has proof that these consequences are the result of Rafizi's influence, such as whether he knew if authorities had frozen the bank accounts at their own volition rather than because of Rafizi's allegations.

Salleh conceded that he is not privy to the reasoning behind the actions against him and his company, but insisted that it is the result of Rafizi's doing.

He disagreed to Razlan's suggestions that the damages are a result of his own conduct.