Police investigations have not revealed any element of criminal breach of trust so far in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) managed by the family of Cabinet minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said today that police had interviewed over 74 people in connection with the probe, including family members of the women, family and community development minister.
“However, we are still continuing our investigation into the issue and will call the minister to record her statement if the need arises,” he said.
PKR has repeatedly attacked the project with various allegations including that “loans” of over RM84 million were given by the NFC to companies owned by Shahrizat’s family including RM13.8 million for two luxury condominiums in Bangsar.
Both opposition and Umno MPs have called for Shahrizat to resign over the scandal which has led to a police investigation for criminal breach of trust.
The Auditor-General’s Report released last month had criticised the NFC, pointing out that it was now “in a mess”.
The report said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1 per cent of the target set.
But Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar responded on October 31 that the project was a success as it had met its target of 8,000 cattle by 2010 once 5,742 slaughtered cattle were taken into account.
Shahrizat has maintained her stand that she had nothing to do with the company managed by her husband and children.
The NFC has been dogged by allegations of corruption and fund misappropriation after it made it into the pages of the Auditor-General’s Report for 2010, which described the project “as a mess”.
Among others, PKR has alleged that the NFC funds were used for Shahrizat’s personal expenses and that of her family, as well as to buy multimillion ringgit condominium units at the luxurious One Menerung in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Shahrizat’s husband and NFC boss Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail has defended the purchase of the condo as well as denied the alleged failure of the project.
PKR scoffed at Mohamad Salleh’s remarks, saying he had failed to deny a single allegation and had merely offered explanations for the many discrepancies involving the NFC.
