BERUAS, Feb 4 – Embattled minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today she is ready and not afraid to face corruption allegations over the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal, after months of denying her involvement in the cattle farming project.

According to Bernama Online, Shahrizat (picture) said the scandal, which saw months of accusations hurled against her and her family, had made her more “spirited”.

“It’s okay. We are politicians. We become more spirited when we are subjected to tests,” the national news agency quoted her as saying during a Barisan Nasional (BN) function here today.

Shahrizat was commenting on a statement by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli that more exposes would greet her when she returns from her three-week leave.

The senior Cabinet minister is scheduled to resume duties next Wednesday.

Shahrizat has been repeatedly linked to the project because of her husband’s role as the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) chairman, and children’s directorships in the same company.

The RM250 million federally-funded cattle-farming project was first coined a “mess” in an article in English daily The Star after it made it into the pages of the Attorney-General’s 2010 Report.

The term was later repeatedly reused by various media organisations to describe the NFC after PKR launched a series of exposés to show the project’s funds were being abused.

PKR had claimed that at least RM27 million was used for land and property purchases as well as expenses unrelated to cattle farming by Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat and her family.

The opposition party also alleged that Shahrizat’s family used nearly RM600,000 from NFCorp’s funds to settle their credit card bills in 2009.

But the management of NFCorp has maintained that the credit card expenses were solely for business purposes.

The women, family and community development minister has since sued Rafizi and PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin over the claims.