Amid pressure, Ambrin 'modifies' criticism of NFC

Jan 25: Auditor General Ambrin Buang whose castigation of the National Feedlot Corporation run by the family of Wanita UMNO head Shahrizat Jalil has resulted in a long-drawn controversy, has now toned down his damning evaluation of the project.

Did Ambrin (left) finally succumb to Ibrahim's pressure?

In a statement breaking his long silence, Ambrin told MCA-controlled The Star that his team had never used words such as "mess", "chaos" and "misappropriation" to describe the project.

“These words were used by other parties and the department should not be held responsible. The department is of the opinion that if there are any elements of misappropriation in the implementation of the project, it would be up to the authorities such as the police or Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate,” he was quoted as saying.

His comments come as UMNO's right wing offshoot urged him to declare publicly that NFC was not the scandal-ridden company portrayed by opposition leaders who had been revealing documents and email copies showing massive financial misappropriation.

The group's chief Ibrahim Ali, quoting Shahrizat's husband Mohamad Salleh who helms the NFC, had claimed that the Auditor General was of the opinion that there had been no mismanagement of funds as alleged.

"We urge him to issue an official statement and be fair to all quarters so that one is defended or punished based on confirmed facts, not on political perception," he said.

Salleh had meanwhile suggested that the Auditor General’s department had confused the National Feedlot Corporation with the government-run National Feedlot Centre owned by the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry.

This followed an announcement last week by deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who was directly responsible for the approval of the RM250 million government funding for the project during his tenure in the Agriculture ministry, that an auditor would be appointed to scrutinise NFC’s books.  

Buoyed by the move, Shahrizat’s son and NFC executive director Izmir Salleh, welcomed the audit by saying it would clear its name of allegations of financial abuse.

The series of revelations showing how the RM250 million government funds meant for NFC had been spent by Shahrizat's family members, including on holiday packages, luxury car and properties, has been attracting intense public interest.

Mahfuz: The issue is abuse of RM250m

Shahrizat, who is also Women, Family and Community Development minister, had since announced a three-week leave to give way to an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Observers said her absence had somewhat shifted pressure to answer questions over the NFC scandal to Muhyiddin.

Responding to the whole episode, PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar (pic, left) said the main issue pertaining to the NFC’s fiasco was on NFC the private firm managed by Shahrizat’s husband and children.

Focussing on the RM250 million given to the company, Mahfuz questioned if the grant had gone through treasury rules.

"The other main issues are the purchase of luxury condominium units in Bangsar and Singapore worth RM13.8 million and RM9.9 million, a Mercedes Benz at RM534,622, and two plots of lands in Putrajaya for RM3,363,507,” the Pokok Sena member of parliament told Harakahdaily.

Mahfuz also called on Shahrizat’s family to answer all the allegations raised.

“Don’t just simply blame the Auditor General’s report,” he added.

Related:

'It's not so bad', says Ibrahim as he comes to Shahrizat's defence