As a High Impact Project under Ninth Malaysia Plan, National Feedlot Centre project will be instrumental in attaining the 40% self-sufficiency for beef production by 2010.

So how is the record so far?

NFC has failed to do so and while failing at that, has sucked out a lot of our money.

We must feel pained by this failure and must ensure that those responsible for stealing public funds will not think that they can get away unpunished.

The National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd is owned by Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd with participation from the Government of Malaysia.

Its business is the development of a planned, integrated and sustainable Malaysian beef industry by setting up a fully integrated livestock farming and beef production facility.

How does it intend to accomplish this aim?

It does this by managing the importation of livestock, feedlotting, slaughtering, processing, packing and marketing of beef in Malaysia.

Ghost cows

The starting point to investigate the NFC is to look at the expenditure on the purchase of livestock.

Examine the money spent to acquire X number of cows and then do a headcount whether X number is there.

This is necessary to avoid hearing horror stories about paying for non-existent cattle.

Many years ago, a similar project was undertaken by a government-linked corporation (GLC) in Pahang.

A lot of money was spent on 'ghost cows'.

The number of cattle imported didn't match the amount of money spent.

The Pahang government has undertaken a similar project currently in Bandar Muazam. We have not yet heard of its performance. But that's up to the Pahang lawmakers to find out.

NFC a failure

The fact of the matter is the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has failed in purpose to supply 40 percent local beef demand. We are still importing cattle and beef.

And the persons benefiting from the monopoly of importing beef since the days of former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is still at it and laughing at the stupidity and failure of the NFC.

He knows the NFC will fail just as Pahang Beef long time ago went down and if strict business ethics are not observed, similar fate awaits DARAbeef also in Pahang.

Our country has only achieved 5% of the target while spending a bomb. The government was supposed to spend RM6.37 million to breed 9,000 cattle.

Instead it has been forced to spend RM141 million to rear 8,000 cattle for three years which is 22 times more costly that the ministry's estimation.

The number of cattle heads is lower, but the money outlay has risen disproportionately.

The huge difference between the actual amount and the estimated figure should have triggered alarm bells and caused investigation into the matter.

What kind of cattle was the centre importing?

Could it be another case of NFC not comparing prices which is fast becoming the standard answer by the Chief Secretary to the government in explaining why departments are paying above market prices?

The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman and a FMT columnist.

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 07:49 AM PST

Are cows sleeping in this condominium? This is the question posed by a PKR MP with regard to the controversy surrounding the National Feedlot Corporation, which is run by a minister's family.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: Continuing its attack on the National Feedlot Centre (NFC), PKR today alleged that taxpayers' money allocated for the company was used to buy a luxury condominium worth RM9.8 million in upmarket Bangsar.

The money for the condo unit at One Menerung, Bangsar, was supposedly taken from the RM81 million given by NFC as a loan to the National Livestock and Meats Corporation (NLMC), a subsidiary contracted as its marketing development agent, PKR said.

Both the NFC and NLMC are owned and operated by the husband and children of Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the Womens Affair and Family Development Minister.

The RM81 million was allegedly "siphoned" from NFC, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said.

"Are we actually seeing cows sleeping in the condo?" he told reporters at Parliament lobby here.

Saifuddin, the Machang MP, is one of the main PKR figures leading the assault against Shahrizat's NFC.

He said that RM9,758,140 was transferred from NFC's CIMB account in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, to Bandar Raya Developments Bhd on Dec 2, 2009, as full payment for the property.

Yesterday, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin defended the NFC project, saying that money from the soft loan to NLMC could only be drawn after NFC tables a working paper and is approved by the finance ministry.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar also said the loan given to NFC was subject to strict scrutiny and approval by the Treasury's committee.

PKR claimed that all of the RM256 million loan has been taken, citing the financial report of the cattle breeding company. But Noh maintained that only RM135 million had been drawn.

What special account?

Saifuddin said the purchase of the property contradicted both Noh and Khairy's defence that the money was placed under strict care.

"It was not from a special trust account. So the Umno Youth chief and minister's explanations are false.

"If there was strict monitoring, surely RM9.8 million cannot be transferred to buy a luxury condominium that has nothing to do with cattle farming. This is a clear breach of trust by Shahrizat's family," he said.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli, who was present, asked how NFC, despite incurring an RM11 million loss in 2009, could afford to buy a luxury condominium.

The Auditor-General's Report released last month had described the NFC project as a "mess". The report said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1% of the target set.

But Noh that the project was a success as it had met its targets, given that "the total number of cattle brought into the farm was 8,016 between 2008 and 2010″.

Shahrizat, the Wanita chief, said the reply given by Noh was enough to clear the controversy, adding that she was happy that the ministry will continue to monitor the project.

She said also said the allegation against NFC was aimed at "destroying" her wing.

PKR leaders have also lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission today, saying they expect a thorough investigation.

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 07:48 AM PST

Condo instead of cows: MACC report filed

Teoh El Sen

| November 10, 2011

A PKR-linked NGO turns up the heat on the NFC scandal by lodging a report with the MACC, demanding that those responsible be brought to book.

SHAH ALAM: A report has been filed with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the RM10 million luxury condominium allegedly purchased with money from the National Feedlot Centre (NFC), run by a minister's family.

The report was lodged with MACC's Selangor office here by PKR-linked NGO, Jingga 13.

"Jingga 13 urges MACC to immediately investigate this serious finding and the attorney-general to charge and bring those involved in betraying the trust of the rakyat to justice," said its chief coordinator Fariz Musa.

Fariz alleged that PKR has solid evidence to show that the family of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who allegedly holds the majority of shares in NFC, is linked to the buying of the said condominium (One Menerung) in Bangsar.

"On Dec 2, 2009, NFC made four money transfers from its current account at CIMB Bank, Taman Tun Dr Ismail to Bandar Raya Developments Bhd as a full payment to purchase the One Menerung condominium," he said.

Fariz said the four transfers were: RM699,870, RM694,150, RM4,199,220, RM4164,900; and the total amounted to RM9,758,140.

'We have to protect our source'

Asked if Jingga 13 brought with it supporting documents for MACC, Fariz said that Jingga 13 has to protect its source, who he claimed is reliable.

He also said that Jingga 13 has no details of how many units were purchased but revealed that the units in One Menerung ranged from RM3 million to over RM10.3 million, depending on the unit sizes.

"This payment of almost RM9.8 million was recorded as "hutang" (debt) from National Meat and Livestocks Corporation Sdn Bhd (NMLC), which is also owned by Shahrizat's family, to NFC," he added.

He alleged that this sum of almost RM9.8 million was part of the RM83 million owed by NMLC to NFC as of Dec 31, 2009. He also alleged that the sum was part of the RM250 million soft loan given by the government to NFC.

"This payment for a luxury condominium on behalf of another company that is fully owned by Shahrizat's family is a form of misappropriation of the rakyat's money which was given as a loan to NFC. This is a form of criminal breach of trust," he said.

"You're supposed to buy cows, but you bought a condo. There is no basis, whatsoever, for NFC to purchase a condominium and it is clearly a gross misuse of power," said Fariz, adding that Jingga 13 visited the condominium but could not obtain further information as they were chased out by security.

Fariz said the latest information also disproves the statements by Umno leaders on the NFC issue, and those who manipulated and distorted facts must be brought to book.

"These include Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (who was the former minister of agriculture and agro-based industries who approved the loan), the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Noh Omar, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahrizat," he added.

The NFC, a project to create Malaysia's "Beef Valley", made headlines after the 2010 Auditor-General's Report criticised the project, saying it was in a "mess". The report said production in 2010 was only 3,289 head of cattle, 41.1% of the target set.

However, the government defended the project, stressing that it was a "success" as adjusted targets were actually met.

PKR, however, continually attacked the project, questioning its "failure" despite being given a soft loan of RM250 million and 5,000 acres of land.

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 07:45 AM PST

SPRM serah siasatan projek Fidlot pada polis

3:22PM Nov 14, 2011

Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menyerahkan kes projek lembu Perbadanan Fidlot Nasional (NFC) milik keluarga Menteri Pembangunan Wanita Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil untuk disiasat Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM).

Menurut suruhanjaya itu, keputusan itu dibuat setelah merujuk kepada bahagian perundangan dan pendakwaannya yang mengaklasifikasikan aduan yang diterima bawah kesalahan Kanun Keseksaan.

"Sehubungan itu SPRM telah diminta merujuk aduan tersebut kepada pihak PDRM," kenyataan itu dipetik.

"Ia juga selaras dengan nasihat daripada Lembaga Penasihat dan Pencegahan Rasuah yang meminta SPRM tidak menjalankan siasatan selain daripada kesalahan di bawah ASPRM (Akta Pencegahan Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia) 2009."

Kenyataan itu juga memaklumkan, keputusan itu sudah dimaklumkan kepada pengadu yang bersetuju dengan tindakan itu.

NONE

Sementara itu, NGO Jingga 13 sebagai pengadunya berkata, mereka dimaklumkan kes itu akan disiasat bawah Seksyen 409 melibatkan kesalahan pecah amanah jenayah oleh pekhidmat awam.

"Jingga 13 meminta agar pihak PDRM mengambil sikap telus dan profesional serta segera menyiasat dan mengambil tindakan yang sewajarnya terhadap kes berprofil tinggi ini kerana ia melibatkan wang rakyat yang telah dipecah amanah tanpa rasa bersalah; dan bertanggungjawab melakukan jenayah dan mengkhianati rakyat Malaysia," kata Penyelarasnya Fariz.

Pengadu: Prasangka berlarutan
NGO yang dikaitkan dengan PKR itu pada 11 November membuatlaporan pada SPRM berhubung dakwaan penyalahgunaan pinjaman untuk membeli kondominium mewah RM9.8 juta One Menerung di Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

Ia ekoran dakwaan PKR bahawa dana daripada pinjaman NFC kepada National Meat and Livestocks Corporations Sdn Bhd (NLMC) digunakan untuk pembelian seunit projek berprestij itu.

Setiausaha agung PKR Saifuddin Nasution mendakwa, tindakan syarikat milik keluarga Menteri Pembangunan Wanita Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil itu merupakan penyelewengan dan bertentangan dengan tujuan pinjaman wang kepada NFC.

Menurut seksyen itu, penjawat awam atau agen yang disabitkan kesalahan boleh dihukum penjara bagi tempoh tidak kurang dari dua tahun dan tidak lebih 20 tahun, dan dengan hukuman sebatan dan denda.

Dalam kenyataannya hari ini, Fariz juga mengucapkan terima kasih atas komitmen SPRM yang bertindak profesional terhadap aduan pihaknya.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Jingga 13 Sharifuddin Shafi Muhammad pula mendesak Shahrizat meletakkan jawatan kerana penglibatan keluarganya didakwa "mendatangkan prasangka yang berlarutan".

Malah, katanya, "pendedahan lengkap" beberapa pemimpin PKR gagal dijawab dengan fakta oleh menteri yang didakwa bersikap berdolak dalik.

"Jingga 13 juga benar-benar amat hairan sehingga kini seluruh ahli Wanita Umno terus membisu dengan skandal NFC yang melibatkan ketuanya," katanya.

Posted: 14 Nov 2011 07:43 AM PST

PKR: Kondo mewah NFC mungkin tak bawa untung

S Pathmawathy
3:53PM Nov 14, 2011

Pembelian kondominium berharga RM10 juta seunit oleh anak syarikat projek penternakan lembut, Perbadanan Fidlot Nasional (NFC) adalah perbelanjaan tidak berhemat khususnya ketika pasaran hartanah mewah yang mengalami trend penurunan, kata pengarah strategik PKR, Rafizi Ramli.

NONE

Bercakap kepada pemberita di lobi Parlimen hari ini, beliau berkata hujah yang dikemukakan adalah bertentangan dengan prinsip-prinsip tadbir urus yang baik.

Memetik statistik oleh Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Hartanah (JPPH), beliau berkata bahawa terdapat 66,328 unit kondominium mewah di negara ini yang masih belum dijual.

"Pasaran hartanah mewah, terutamanya bagi kondominium mewah seperti yang dibeli oleh NFC, dijangka akan mengalami penurunan harga dari tahun 2010 dan tahun-tahun akan datang," kata Rafizi (kiri), seorang akauntan bertauliah yang pernah berkhidmat sebagai pengurus kanan di syarikat petroleum negara, Petronas.

"Ini satu keputusan yang gila. Saya tidak mempunyai kata-kata (untuk menghuraikannya) - jarang dibuat, tidak pernah didengari, malah pelik untuk melabur dalam kondominium mewah sebagai pelaburan jangka pendek terutamanya ketika pasaran yang lembap.

NONE

"Mungkin syarikat-syarikat pelaburan hartanah atau syarikat induk tertentu melakukannya tetapi ia sudah pasti sesuatu yang ganjil, apa lagi pelaburan yang dilakukan oleh sebuah syarikat penternakan lembu," katanya.

Rafizi mengulas kenyataan ketua pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin yang mengakui bahawa syarikat National Livestock and Meat Corporation yang dimiliki anggota keluarga menteri kabinet, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil telah membeli unit apartmen mewah One Menerung di Bangsar.

Menurut Khairy, pembelian kondominium itu dibuat supaya syarikat itu mendapat pulangan pelaburan memandangkan projek lembunya mengalami kelewatan operasi.

"Apabila kelewatan ini berlaku, pihak pengurusan NFC berdepan dengan keputusan penting. Apakah mereka hanya biar duit yang diberi kepada NLMC itu dalam akaun semasa yang tidak memberi pulangan yang besar sambil menunggu ladang-ladang satelit dan pusat penyembelihan antarabangsa dibangunkan?

NONE

"Kalau dibiar sahaja duit itu dalam akaun semasa, bukan sekadar ia tidak membawa pulangan tetapi dengan iklim ekonomi dunia yang melihat fenomena inflasi atau kenaikan harga barang, nilai sebenar duit ini mungkin terhakis," kata Khairy lagi.

Bagi, Rafizi, wang tunai berlebihan itu sepatutnya digunakan untuk pelaburan mudah tunai seperti pasaran ekuiti ataupun dalam simpanan tetatp jangka pendek dan bukannya dalam pelaburan hartanah.

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