Rafizi Ramli welcomed the defamation suit filed by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil against him today, saying it would help uncover more dirt on the scandal-hit National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).
The PKR strategic director said he was “more than glad” to go to court as this would allow him to subpoena NFC for company documents which could buttress the party’s claims against Shahrizat and her family.
PKR is already in possession of what it claims to be the NFC’s cash book — obtained through an anonymous whistleblower — which details every transaction made by the company via its primary account.
“We are very certain we are fine because everything that we say is backed by facts and data from inside, which they have not denied,” Rafizi (picture) told The Malaysian Insider today.
He noted that it was Shahrizat and not the NFC who had filed the suit, pointing out that the company could also dispute the allegations in court.
The suit was likely a belated political move to assuage public suspicion about the NFC, Rafizi added, noting that the federal minister’s lack of reaction prior to this had lent credence to PKR’s claims.
The matter will be handled by the party lawyers, Sivarasa Rasiah and N. Surendran.
Shahrizat’s suit today comes following months of allegations by PKR that she had misused millions in federal funds earmarked for the NFC to pay for personal expenses incurred by her and her family.
The cattle raising scheme is headed by the Wanita Umno chief’s husband, Datuk Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and their three children.
The RM100 million suit also named Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, who heads the rival Wanita PKR wing.
Zuraida could not be reach for comment.
Shahrizat applied for three weeks’ leave from her duties last week after new allegations of bribery surfaced in the NFC project.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced yesterday that the government would appoint an auditor to scrutinise NFC’s books in light of PKR’s accusations.
Rafizi today urged the government to make the results and conclusions of the audit public by tabling them in Parliament.
