‘Don’t let NFC tarnish Najib’

PM’S good work should not be overshadowed by controversy, says Eswaran

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister’s reputation should not be tarnished by the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) controversy.

Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) president Datuk K. Kenneth Eswaran said this was unfair to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“The prime minister is doing an excellent job. He does not deserve these problems,” Eswaran said after chairing a meeting with members here yesterday.

Without mentioning names, Eswaran said those involved should be prepared to face the consequences instead of coming up with excuses.

“The money was loaned by the government for a specific reason and so it is wrong to say that it was used to invest in other things.

“It’s so difficult to get even a RM100,000 business loan these days but here you have a huge government loan of Rm250mil with nominal conditions that should have rightfully been used for the given purpose,” he said.

According to Eswaran, the NFC’S executive chairman, directors and shareholders must be answerable to the government and taxpayers.

“Action must be initiated against the relevant parties,” Eswaran added.

He said the government’s idea to initiate NFC was a good move as it would eventually reduce the import of cattle and beef.

The NFC issue came to light when the 2010 Auditor-general’s Report, released in October, pointed out that the corporation had failed to achieve its objectives.

The NFC is headed by Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail, who is Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s husband.

The company has admitted using the loan money to purchase property as investments.

NFC’S assets have been frozen pending investigations by the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC).