PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said the 2,282-square feet condominium, one of the largest available at the posh Orchard Scotts Residences on Anthony Road, was purchased for S$4.1 million by the senior minister’s family members on January 27 last year.
“What is even more nauseating is that the unit was registered directly under the names of Shahrizat’s family members, instead of the company... they were jointly registered under (husband) Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail and their two children Izran and Izzana,” he told a press conference today.
PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli however admitted later that the party was unable to trace the actual money trail between NFC’s funds and the condominium purchase.
He however pointed out that previous records had also shown the direct transfer of funds between Real Foods Company (RFC) and the National Meat and Livestock Corporation (NMLC), both owned by Shahrizat’s family members, and two other companies that they own in Singapore.
“What we really have to question is how a loss-making business like the NFC could afford to make four real estate purchases — almost RM30 million of real estate... two pieces of land and two purchases of condominium units.
“Plus, on the meagre salary of a minister? And the family’s businesses are all running into losses... I have full confidence that if the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) or the police were to pore over all the relevant transactions, you will see the money trail,” he said.
Mohamad Salleh, who is also NFC executive chairman, was recently forced to admit to NFC’s purchase of two condominium units at the luxurius One Menerung in Bangsar for a staggering RM6.9 million each. He however claimed the purchase was for investment reasons, saying that the units were rental cash cows.
Saifuddin noted today that the latest expose on the Singapore condominium purchase “completes” PKR’s earlier revelations that NFC funds have been channelled to set up and fund Singapore-based companies Meatworks (Singapore) Pte Ltd and Global Biofuture Pte Ltd, both of which are also owned by Shahrizat’s family.
Last month, PKR revealed financial records showing that companies currently have debts with the RFC amounting to RM939,495 (Global Future) and RM2,416,815 (Meatworks).
Today, Saifuddin also revealed a copy of an email correspondence between Izran and one Donna Yong, who purportedly manages the family’s Meatworks business in Singapore, discussing funds to manage the luxurious eatery.
“For the duration of three months between October and December 2010, Shahrizat’s family transferred an estimated S$530,000 or RM1.3 million from the government’s funds to manage its personal business in Singapore,” he said.
“If this happened throughout 2010 and 2011, it is likely the funds have surpassed RM10 million for the business in Singapore.”
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could ill-afford to prolong his “golden silence” on the matter and urged the authorities to freeze all of NFC’s funds and activities pending an in-depth investigation into the scandal.
PKR will also lodge another report with the MACC tomorrow.
Police had recently claimed that there was no element of breach of trust in the NFC. Since the issue blew up in the media, Shahrizat has pointedly avoided explaining the matter and merely told the recently-concluded Umno annual general assembly that it had nothing to do with her.
