Shahrizat says wants to clear name, welcomes probe
PUTRAJAYA, Feb 8 — Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today she was thankful for the graft investigation into the controversial RM250 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC) as she wants her name cleared from allegations that she abused her power in the project awarded to her family.
Shahrizat said today that she “wants no stone unturned” in the investigation into NFC. — file picThe Wanita Umno chief told reporters after spending over two hours at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters here that she had presented herself willingly after she was summoned by the anti-graft body yesterday.
“I want no stone unturned in this investigation as I have been subjected to a lot of wild allegations,” she said before leaving the premises.
The women, family and community development minister only returned to ministerial duties today after taking three weeks’ leave to allow authorities to investigate claims of abuse of power against both her and her family.
The RM250 million publicly-funded cattle-raising scheme was first coined a “mess” after it made it into the pages of the Attorney-General’s 2010 Report for failing to meet production targets.
PKR has claimed that Shahrizat and her family used the RM250 million loan to obtain land, property and cars as well as cover expenses worth over RM62 million unrelated to cattle farming.
The company’s assets were frozen after investigations were launched by the police and the national anti-graft body following the revelations.
Shahrizat also told reporters today she had hoped to be called for questioning by the MACC during her leave.
“I’m married to the chairman of the NFC. So this is a clear-cut question of whether there was conflict of interest in the award, decision-making. But I made it clear to the MACC I have never been a part of it,” she said.
Shahrizat has faced calls to resign from both opposition and Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, including former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
But she has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that she is just the wife of the executive chairman of the National Feedlot Corporation.
The senator was a member of the Cabinet that awarded the project to her family in 2006.
