DAP wants PM to compel NFC to repay loan

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been urged to respond to a minister’s call for Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family to repay the RM250 million government soft loan received by the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the premier’s input is important as the de facto law minister has drawn a direct link between Shahrizat and the NFC scandal.

“This is the first ever admission by a cabinet minister that not only Shahrizat is tied to the cows and condos scandal, but that there is wrong doing,” said Lim in a statement today.

He was referring to a Sinar Harian report in which Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz had urged Shahrizat’s family to repay the loan.

Nazri said this was more important that asking Shahrizat to step down as women, family and community development minister.

Repayment ‘not enough’

Lim contended that Nazri would not have asked Shahrizat’s family to return the money if there was no wrongdoing.

“Even then, returning the money is inadequate. Action must be taken against those responsible and Shahrizat should also resign,” Lim said.

The NFC project was awarded to Shahrizat’s family in 2007 under the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration and when Muhyiddin Yassin was agriculture minister.

The Auditor-General’s 2010 Report has found that the project is off target and also highlighted other alleged irregularities.

Following this, PKR divulged details of how the soft loan has been used for various unrelated investments, including the purchase of luxury properties and a piece of prime land in Putrajaya.

Shahrizat has disclaimed any wrongdoing, stressing that she was not involved in the project headed by her husband and therefore, she has no reason to step down from her ministerial post.