Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to quit Cabinet Minister post

Once powerful Malaysian woman, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said on Sunday, 11th March 2012 that she will step down as the country's Women, Family and Community Development Minister when her term as senator ends on April 8, 2012.

However she will remain as Wanita Umno chief.

“I want to stress that I made the decision on my own. I love this nation and have the greatest respect for the government and the prime minister.

"I have nothing to do with NFC (National Feedlot Corporation). I just happened to be married to the chairman.

“I've been in politics a long time, and it is the right thing to do,” she told reporters at Desa Water Park.

Shahrizat, who was surrounded by children and dandling a baby on her lap throughout the press conference, said she felt blessed for having the chance to serve the people.

"Serving the targeted groups under the ministry has been a joyful journey for me," she said, adding that it had brought meaning to her life.

The first-term senator's announcement comes after numerous allegations that her family had used an RM250 million federal loan meant for NFC to purchase land, property, and incurred expenses unrelated to cattle farming.

Headed by Shahrizat's husband Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail and their three children, the NFC was meant to rear cattle for the National Feedlot Centre in Gemas, Negri Sembilan.

However, in 2010 the Auditor-General's Report pointed out that the NFC had missed production goals that lead to a barrage of revelations about NFC that put her family under an unfavourable spotlight.

The former Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament had maintained that she had nothing to do with the NFC as she was “only the wife” of Salleh.

Since then, the publicly-funded firm has been repeatedly accused by opposition parties of using its government soft loan for purposes unrelated to cattle farming, including the purchase of luxury condominium units in Bangsar and Singapore, and land in Putrajaya.

The police recommended last February 2012, that the Attorney-General (AG) charge NFC's directors for criminal breach of trust, but the AG has requested that the police conduct further investigations.



Meanwhile former Wanita UMNO Chief, Tan Sri RAFIDAH AZIZ (picture above) whom Shahrizat unseated in the March 2009 UMNO General Election flatly said, Shahrizat is still a burden for not relinquishing Wanita leadership!

"QUIT? What quit?". That seems to be the question on many lips following Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's announcement on Sunday, 11th March 2012, that she was stepping down as the women, family and community development minister, in reaction to the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal.

One of her harshest critics is her predecessor in Wanita Umno, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who indicated that one should not attempt to downplay the events that led to Shahrizat's term as senator not being renewed and hence losing her minister's post.

"There is no issue of stepping down or resigning!" Rafidah said when contacted by The Malay Mail.

"There is nothing to step down from as she is legally no longer a minister on April 8, 2012."

"She is not resigning on April 8, it is just that her senatorship expires that day and her ministerial post automatically lapses."

Calling Shahrizat's quit announcement as a "sham of a statement", Rafidah said resigning meant Shahrizat should quit immediately – while she was still a senator.

"So, really there is no sacrifice as it was a natural sequence of events," said the former minister of international trade and industry who was among the first to ask Shahrizat to quit over the NFC scandal.

"The party and government have had to face so much flak on account of her unwillingness to resign quickly and prioritise the interests of the party and the government."

Rafidah lost the Wanita Umno chief's post to Shahrizat in 2007 but retained her Kuala Kangsar parliament seat in the 2008 "political tsunami" that saw Barisan Nasional (BN) lose its two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

In that general election, Shahrizat lost her Lembah Pantai seat to newcomer Nurul Izzah Anwar, but was appointed a senator and returned to the Cabinet.

Rafi dah also said since Shahrizat remained Wanita chief, she was still a burden to the party since members realised that she did not resign her ministerial post but that the post automatically lapsed on April 8.

She said it might be tough for Umno to explain why she did not step down as Wanita head.

"That issue is now a problem in itself. It does not matter what happens to one person but every division must now concentrate on the grassroots election work in every locality," she said.

However, Rafidah acknowledges that while the ministerial post is an appointed one, Shahrizat was elected as Wanita chief and hence one must also factor in the wishes of members.

"That (vacating her position as Wanita head) is her prerogative as she was elected," she said.

Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil umum letak jawatan Menteri pada 8 April 2012

Dalam reaksinya berhubung pengumuman perletakan Datuk Seri Shahrizat sebagai Menteri Kabinet, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak berkata keputusan Shahrizat itu adalah betul dan tepat demi kepentingan kerajaan dan parti.








Ingatlah, hanya kerana Lembu, haiwan yang dianggap bodoh dan dungu ibarat perumpamaan "Macam Lembu", maka seorang Menteri yang popular dan berkaliber, boleh dipaksa melepaskan jawatan.

Ingat, Lembu itu bukan dungu dan bodoh, kerana ia boleh mengkucar kacirkan politik di Malaysia.!!

Senator Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil mengumumkan perletakan jawatannya sebagai Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat berkuat kuasa pada 8 April 2012 ini apabila penggal beliau sebagai Ahli Dewan Negara tamat.

Bagaimanapun, beliau akan mengekalkan jawatannya sebagai Ketua Wanita UMNO bagi menjalankan tanggungjawab dan amanah yang diberikan oleh akar umbi.

Shahrizat membuat pengumuman itu dalam satu sidang media, di Kuala Lumpur pada petang Ahad, 11 Mac 2012.

Pengunduran beliau dalam barisan Kabinet itu dipercayai ada kaitan dengan isu Pusat Fidlot Nasional. (NFC) yang menjalankan ternakan lembu di Gemas, Negeri Sembilan yang didakwa wujud penyelewengan serta membabitkan ahli keluarganya.

Isu itu tercetus berikutan Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2010 pada Oktober tahun lalu yang menyentuh mengenai pengurusan NFC kerana berdepan masalah apabila sasaran pengeluarannya dikurangkan daripada 60,000 ekor lembu kepada 8,000 lembu.

Namun Ketua Audit Negara menafikan dakwaan ada mengeluarkan kenyataan bahawa NFC dalam keadaan kucar kacir atau istilah bahasa Inggerisnya "In A Mess", sebaliknya hanya menyentuh NFC tidak diurus dengan baik.

Dakwaan penyelewengan NFC pula ditimbulkan pembangkang termasuk dakwaan membeli 2 unit kondominium mewah menggunakan dana NFC yang sepatutnya digunakan untuk membeli lembu termasuk lembu baka berkualiti tinggi atau mencari kaedah meningkatkan pengeluaran lembu negara.

Pada 13 Januari 2012, Shahrizat mula bercuti daripada menjalankan tugas sebagai Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat selama tiga minggu.

Berikut adalah transkrip sidang akhbar perletakan jawatan Shahrizat tersebut:

Wartawan: Apakah keputusan meletak jawatan adalah keputusan Datuk Seri sendiri?

Shahrizat: Saya sudah lama jadi ahli politik. Saya rasa ini adalah masanya untuk saya berundur. Saya merupakan seorang peguam, masuk politik, jadi menteri, pernah menang (pilihan raya), kalah, dan kembali semula (dalam politik). Semua ini saya lakukan demi khidmat kepada rakyat. Saya mahu gembira menjalankan tugas. Justeru, apa sahaja keputusan yang saya buat adalah keputusan terbaik dan ini (letak jawatan) adalah keputusan tepat.

Adakah peletakan itu mempunyai kaitan dengan skandal NFCorp?

Tidak ada kaitan. Ia hanya kebetulan memandangkan saya merupakan isteri kepada Pengerusi Eksekutif NFC. Ini adalah keputusan saya sendiri (letak jawatan). Saya mahu pastikan apabila saya berundur, segala kemelut NFCorp akan diselesaikan secara undang-undang. Kita tunggu keputusannya nanti.

Bila Datuk Seri akan menghantar surat peletakan jawatan?

Saya sudah siapkan surat itu dan akan hantar kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, hari ini. Tapi ia akan berkuat kuasa 8 April ini.

Untuk jawatan sebagai Ketua Wanita UMNO dan Pengerusi Wanita BN, saya telah fikir dengan panjang lebar, saya akan teruskan tugas dan amanah yang diberikan kepada saya. Kepada Pergerakan Wanita UMNO dan juga pergerakan wanita parti-parti komponen BN, saya ucapkan berbanyak terima kasih.

Ini adalah tahun ke-31 saya menjadi ahli UMNO. Mereka adalah keluarga saya. Bersama-sama mereka dan Wanita BN, kita jadi satu power force yang memperjuangkan rakyat.

Apakah Datuk Seri beranggapan tidak ada pihak yang membantu berhubung desakan meletakkan jawatan?

Saya rasa ini adalah masa yang terbaik untuk saya undur diri. Saya rasa akan ada berkat. Dalam perjuangan, kita mesti jelas apa tujuan dan apa perkhidmatan yang kita buat kepada negara. Saya rasa amat selesa untuk undur diri apabila tamat penggal sebagai Ahli Dewan Negara nanti.

Saya rasa gembira kerana sepanjang 10 tahun dalam kementerian, kita sempat membawa beberapa perubahan terutama untuk kumpulan sasar iaitu wanita, keluarga, orang kurang upaya (OKU), kanak-kanak, isu-isu kebajikan serta pembangunan masyarakat dan warga emas.

Perubahan utama yang kita buat adalah dengan pindaan Perlembagaan iaitu kita dapat kelulusan Kabinet dalam menentukan tidak boleh lagi ada diskriminasi terhadap wanita. Oleh kerana saya akan berundur pada 8 April, dalam masa dua hingga tiga minggu ini, saya akan jalankan tugas-tugas terutama dalam menentukan Akta Pekerja Sosial yang diperjuangkan kementerian menjadi kenyataan. Saya harap ia akan menjadi warisan saya terutama dalam bidang kebajikan.

Apakah ini (letak jawatan) atas kenyataan dan desakan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad sebelum ini?

Tidak. Tetapi saya ingin mengambil kesempatan ini untuk mengucapkan berbanyak terima kasih kepada Perdana Menteri dan juga Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin serta rakan jemaah menteri. Ini kerana semasa saya menjalankan tugas sebagai menteri, saya mendapat kerjasama yang begitu baik daripada semua.

Terima kasih juga kepada warga kementerian. Saya rasa bertuah dan bahagia dalam melaksanakan perkhidmatan terutama kepada golongan miskin, warga emas dan OKU. Mereka membawa keinsafan terhadap hidup saya. Juga kepada pertubuhan-pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO). Saya harap semua akan terus memberi kerjasama kepada kementerian.

Mat Zain: ‘No doubt’ Shahrizat’s husband, children committed multiple CBT

Mat Zain: ‘No doubt’ Shahrizat’s husband, children committed multiple CBT

By Clara Chooi
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 26, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Former senior police officer Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim asserted today that the National Feedlot Corporation’s (NFCorp) controversial condominium purchases are clear examples of CBT (criminal breach of trust), adding the Attorney-General should have “no doubt” of this when deciding whether to press charges.

Mat Zain said that based on provisions in Section 409 of the Penal Code, the husband and children of minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who run the NFCorp, should each be slapped with numerous counts of CBT.

If convicted, the former KL CID chief said they would be liable to a jail term of between two and 20 years, whipping and a fine.

“After having sighted the NFC (National Feedlot Centre) loan agreement that was made available yesterday, coupled with the public statement by the Commercial Crimes Investigations Director (CCID), I would say that the Attorney General’s Chambers should not have any doubts in their mind now, that these are clear cut case of CBTs by agent as defined under Section 409 (of the) Penal Code.

“There’s no two ways about it. This is not like a breach of an agreement,” he said in an emailed statement to The Malaysian Insider today.

In an in intriguing twist to the ongoing NFC saga, CCID Director Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan confirmed yesterday that the police would recommend CBT charges against all NFCorp directors to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Mat Zain noted that under the law, every disbursement of public funds in the NFC that was considered in violation of the loan agreement would be considered as one office.

He singled out NFCorp’s controversial condominium purchases, saying every payment for the property, whether for downpayment or instalment, would be viewed as one CBT charge.

“For example the purchase of Condo A: If the purchase of Condo A involved 10 instalments at different times, using the same fund then, they are answerable to 10 counts of CBT charges. That’s how it works.

“So it looks like Shahrizat’s husband and children have committed multiple CBTs by agents in the NFC fiasco,” he said.

NFCorp, which operates the NFC, a RM250 million federally-funded cattle-farming project, is chaired by federal minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s husband, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail. Their three children also hold executive posts in the company.

The NFC hit the headlines after it made it into the Auditor-General’s Report last year, and has continued to hog the limelight after it was linked to Shahrizat and her family.

Since then, PKR has revealed numerous startling exposes over the scandal-ridden project, including allegations that millions of ringgit have been siphoned off for land, property and personal expenses unrelated to cattle farming.

But recently, in response to claims that NFCorp had purchased two luxury condominiums worth RM34 million in Singapore’s posh Marina Bay Suites, Shahrizat’s son Wan Shahinur Izmir had explained that the company had decided that it would make better use of the money by investing in property during a break in business operations.

The break, said Wan Shahinur Izmir, was caused by the government’s decision to suspend the construction of an abattoir that would have been rented to NFCorp. According to Pua, however, the Finance Ministry had told a parliamentary committee last November that there was no provision that permits the NFCorp to use its federal loan to purchase property.

Since the scandal exploded in the media, Shahrizat (picture) has been faced with repeated calls for her resignation, even from her colleagues in Umno. But she has insisted that the project had nothing to do with her.

The Wanita Umno chief applied for three weeks’ leave from her ministerial duties last month when new allegations of bribery surfaced. She has since resumed her duties.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced last month Putrajaya would appoint an auditor to scrutinise NFCorp’s books in light of accusations made against the company, but dismissed calls for a royal commission of inquiry into the NFC.

Shahrizat at MACC office

Source The Star Online

Malaysian Women, Family and Community Development Minister and Barisan Nasional / UMNO Wanita Chief, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil went to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission, MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Wednesday, 8th February 2012.

The embattled Minister said she had requested to be questioned and investigated over the Natioal Feedlot Centre, NFC issue.

She sent a SMS to The Star to say that she was there voluntarily to put paid to the speculations surrounding the issue.

“Excuse me !! I am here at SPRM willingly. Have requested to be questioned and investigated so that no stone is left unturned. Enuff of wild allegations!” the SMS read.

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil was seen being greeted by MACC director of investigations Datuk Mustafar Ali on arrival at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 4 pm.

Earlier today, 8th February 2012, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli alleged Shahrizat's family owned 2 more luxury condominiums in Singapore worth RM 34.6 million with bank loans obtained from leveraging the fixed deposit accounts containing part of the RM 250 million loan given by the Government to start up the NFC.



Earlier on Sunday, 5th February 2012, Datuk Seri Shahrizat hit out at her critics by calling one of them a jambu boy (pretty boy).

Calling a certain PKR leader a jambu boy, the Wanita Umno chief said the wing would send him a Wanita Umno baju kurung, as he would look good in it.

“In Perak, I received information that the jambu boy' had been stalking me, trailing my movements over the last three months,'' she said in an event in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate the birth of Maulidur Rasul Day babies.

Although Shahrizat did not name the jambu boy, it is understood she was referring to PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli who has been hot on her heels over the NFC controversy.

Shahrizat questioned if the jambu boy was eyeing her post, as the wing's strong machinery could be handy for a certain Prime Minister wannabe.

In an immediate response, Rafizi said he was actually flattered that Shahrizat wanted to send him the baju kurung.

“I will accept the gift graciously and gently place it in a wooden box and wait for an opportune moment to bury it along with Barisan Nasional,” he said.

“Shahrizat has probably resorted to personal attacks because she knows I have more up my sleeve.

“We will spring a surprise on her when she returns to the (Women, Family and Community Development) ministry on Wednesday, 8th February 2012'' he said.

Rafizi said Shahrizat was actually missing the point.

“We ask simple questions whether she was involved in decision-making, as her family is not qualified to take on such a project. The public wants closure.

“But instead, she is trying to make political jokes like calling me jambu. I am not handsome,” he said.

Shahrizat also accused the Opposition of going all out to discredit and weaken her because they feared the strength of the Wanita Umno machinery, which was the strongest in Barisan.

“Even if a person has yet to be proven guilty or not, the Opposition will go all out to twist and spin because it is a do-or-die battle for them.

“They can run me down. But I am answerable to Allah,” she said.

On the salvos fired against her from within the Wanita Umno wing, Shahrizat said a leader would always be in the line of fire.

“But as a lawyer and a former magistrate, I am telling them, you don't find a person guilty until proven,” she said.

On her Wanita Umno predecessor Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who had asked her to step down over the NFC controversy, Shahrizat said it was against her principles to attack older people.

“I will remain tight-lipped,” she said.

She also denied that she was drawing Umno into the NFC controversy because of her refusal to step down.

“I am not a quitter. I am in politics because I have a vision for Malaysia and Wanita Barisan Nasional.

“All over the world, leaders go through challenging times. There is nothing extraordinary or peculiar about what is happening to me,” she added.

Rafizi said Pakatan Rakyat would push for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the NFC controversy.

He said he would not back off despite being threatened with a lawsuit and being subjected to personal attacks.

All the best Shahrizat.

NFC - Shahrizat sues PKR strategic director, Ampang MP for RM 100 million

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who is currently on a 3 week leave over the National Feedlot Project, NFC, issue, filed a RM 100 million defamation suit on Thursday 19 January 2012 against parti Keadilan Rakyat, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and PKR director of strategy Mohd Rafizi Ramli over alleged defamatory statements against her in relation to the NFC issue.

She filed the suit at the Civil High Court Registry at about 3pm through law firm Messrs Shafee & Co.

Shahrizat, currently on three weeks' leave to facilitate investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into the NFC controversy, is claiming RM50 million as general damages and another RM50 million for aggravated and exemplary damages from both defendants.

She is also seeking an injunction to restrain the defendants from making further statements, whether oral or by way of publication, against her in connection with any matter related to the National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd or associated companies.

She is also seeking legal cost and further reliefs deemed fit by the court.

In the statement of claim, Shahrizat stated that at all times, she did not hold any position with the NFC and both defendants had started holding press conferences at various locations, slandering NFC, her husband Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail and family.

The Wanita Umno chief claimed that the defendants had systematically and maliciously launched a campaign to "attack, discredit, malign and defame the plaintiff" by spreading vicious, slanderous and libelous allegations against her.

She added that the first defendant (Mohd Rafizi) had authored and published various articles in his blog www.rafiziramli.com.

Shahrizat claimed that the said articles were understood to mean that she had committed some serious legal or moral transgressions and that she was involved in the award process of the feedlot project to NFC.

She also claimed that the second defendant (Zuraida) had issued various libelous statements via press statements reported in the mainstream media and as well as in the official news website of PKR www.keadilandaily.com.

Shahrizat contended that the second defendant had expressed and implied knowledge and with the intention that her words would be published and repeated in the media.

She strongly believed that Zuraida's words meant that NFC could not have obtained the National Feedlot Project if not for the fact she (Shahrizat) was the Umno Wanita chief or a cabinet minister.

As a result of the wide circulation and publication by both defendants, the plaintiff contended she been seriously defamed, suffered considerable loss, hurt and embarrassment to her good name as a person, politician, minister and Wanita Umno chief.

Sharizat's counsel Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters that his client strongly felt that the culture of impunity in relation to making defamatory statements and rumour mongering must stop.

Previously PKR accussed the NFC top management of using company funds to pay credit card bills amounting to RM593,500 in 2009.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli claimed that NFC’s executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Salleh Ismail and his three children, who hold positions in NFC, had each spent between RM10,200 and RM15,210 a month on their credit cards.

However, in an immediate reaction, NFC executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh said these were corporate cards for business expenses.

“They are not personal expenses as alleged,” he said.

Earlier, Rafizi said PKR would lodge a police report on the credit card expenditure at Dang Wangi police station.

Dr Mohamed Salleh is the husband of Shahrizat.

Rafizi also questioned a statement made by NFC chief executive officer Wan Shahinur Izran Salleh that it was still “business as usual” at NFC despite the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak that the corporation’s assets had been frozen pending investigation.

Meanwhile, in another development, NFC executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh denied a blogger’s claim that the company’s directors were receiving huge salaries.

He said the relevant authorities had information on their payroll and bank statements.

He said: “The highly exaggerated figures first emerged from a mysterious prank blogger and his erroneous post continues to be picked up by the public.”

On Saturday, 14th January 2012, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak said the NFC's assets have been frozen for the time being following MACC's probe on the company.

He also said that he had asked Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar to study how best the NFC issue can be resolved.

He described the decision taken by Shahrizat to take a three-week's leave from her ministerial duties as appropriate.

The decision, he said, would allow the authority to investigate if she was involved in the NFC issue.

"I've discussed with Datuk Seri Shahrizat about the leave, and it is an appropriate decision as it allows the authority to carry out a thorough investigation.

"Datuk Seri Shahrizat said she was willing to be investigated fully. What happens after this will depend on the outcome of the investigation," he told reporters in Parit Buntar, Perak.

Shahrizat said in a statement that she had applied for three weeks' leave, starting Friday, 13th January 2012.

The NFC issue came to light when the 2010 Auditor-General's Report, released in October 2011, pointed out that the corporation had failed to achieve its objectives.

The NFC, headed by Shahrizat's husband Dr Mohamad Salleh, is the "meat valley" project in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan aimed at increasing the production of local meat and reducing dependency on import for such product.

All the best NFC and cows..

NFC: Shahrizat saman Rafizi, Zuraida RM100 juta

Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil yang sedang bercuti 3 minggu ekoran isu Pusat Fidlot Kebangsaan, N-F-C, hari ini Khamis 19 Januari 2012 memfailkan saman fitnah RM100 juta terhadap Pengarah Strategik Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Mohd Rafizi Ramli dan Ketua Wanita PKR, Zuraida Kamaruddin berhubung isu NFC.

Diwakili peguam Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Shahrizat yang juga Ketua Wanita UMNO memfailkan saman itu di pejabat pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi, Kuala Lumpur, jam 3 petang, Khamis 19 Januari 2012 menerusi pejabat Tetuan Shafee & Co.

Sebelum ini Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada 14 Januari 2012 lalu mengesahkan aset NFC telah dibekukan bagi membantu siasatan berhubung dakwaan penyelewengan peruntukan kerajaan berjumlah RM250 juta kepada syarikat itu.

Perdana Menteri berkata, beliau telah menyerahkan kepada Timbalannya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, Datuk Seri Noh Omar untuk mencari penyelesaian terbaik termasuk mengenai masa depan syarikat projek lembu daging itu.

"Sebenarnya aset NFC memang sudah dibekukan. Saya sudah serah kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani untuk mengkaji penyelesaian terbaik dalam soal NFC.

"Satu siasatan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah (SPRM) sedang berjalan dan satu lagi mengenai masa depan NFC itu sendiri," katanya.

Dalam perkembangan sama, Najib menyifatkan keputusan Shahrizat bercuti 3 minggu itu sebagai tepat bagi membolehkan pihak berkuasa menjalankan siasatan dengan rapi.

"Saya telah berbincang dengan beliau dan keputusan itu tepat bagi membolehkan pihak berkuasa buat siasatan rapi. Shahrizat beritahu saya beliau sanggup disiasat sepenuhnya.

"Apa yang akan berlaku kemudian tertakluk kepada hasil siasatan yakni siasatan dari awal lagi. Maknanya sama ada dia sebagai seorang menteri terlibat dalam proses pemberian kepada kontrak itu," jelasnya.

Sementara itu Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata kerajaan melantik sebuah firma perunding perakaunan bagi melindungi kepentingan kerajaan dalam projek Pusat Fidlot Nasional yang sebelum ini diuruskan NFC.

Muhyiddin berkata, antara tugas firma tersebut ialah menjalankan satu penelitian wajar selain melakukan audit projek dari segi penggunaan dana pinjaman, pengurusan serta kewangan.

Menurutnya, dijangkakan tugasan tersebut bakal dimuktamadkan dalam tempoh sebulan.

''Bagi melindung kepentingan kerajaan, sebuah firma perunding perakaunan yang ditugaskan untuk menjalankan satu penelitian wajar atau 'due diligence' akan dilantik.

''(Dan) audit projek dari segi penggunaan dana pinjaman, pengurusan dan kewangan akan dilakukan. Tugasan ini dijangka dimuktamadkan dalam tempoh sebulan,'' katanya dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu, 18 Januari 2012 lalu.

Apapun semoga projek NFC itu menepati matlamatnya untuk mengurangkan impot daging negara.

Shahrizat in Batu Bungan, Baram, Sarawak to check on Penan rape claims

Malaysia's Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil met the Penan community in Batu Bungan, Baram, Sarawak, on 13th July 2010,amid fresh allegations that Penan women were raped by timber camp workers.






Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil flew into a remote area in Sarawak in the morning of 13th July 2010, to personally check on the issue and allegations of Penan Women being raped by timber camp workers.









Shahrizat during the meet the Penan session in Batu Bungan, Baram, Sarawak, 13th July 2010.


Shahrizat with Penan women in Batu Bungan, Baram, Sarawak, 13th July 2010



Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil flew into a remote area in Sarawak in the morning of 13th July 2010, to personally check on the issue and allegations of Penan Women being raped by timber camp workers.

Shahrizat who flew into Batu Bungan, Baram on board a convoy of 5 helicopters from Miri Airport, met the old and young of the Penan community, talked to them, mingled around and addressed them in the visit which lasted almost 3 hours.

She also assured them that the rape allegations are being seriously looked into and investigated by the Sarawak and Federal Bukit Aman police.

Shahrizat said she has been instructed to personally look into the plight of the Penan people in Sarawak by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, following fresh allegations of rape and sexual abuse of Penan women.

“It is not an easy straight-forward situation but I am very keen to reach out to them,” she told the local media upon her return from her fact-finding mission.

“I want to have a feel of the place and to have a chance to meet some of the Penan people face-to-face. I want to know how they feel and see how best the Government can help them. We already formed the National Task Force (NTF) to look specifically into the plight of Penan women and children, when the allegations first surfaced in 2009” she stressed.

During a briefing on the eve of her visit, Shahrizat told her team members that it was not right for government agencies and non-governmental organisations to make arm chair decisions from Kuala Lumpur without first consulting the very people who needed their help.

“We have to be very transparent and tell the real story, especially about the plight of Penan women and children in relation to these rape allegations,” she said.

“Rape is rape, there are no two ways about it. Whether it occurred in the deep jungle of Sarawak with Penans or in Kuala Lumpur, the perpetrators must be punished.

“The Penan community should know that now they have someone to champion their cause and that is us.”

Shahrizat also urged the police to take the Penan rape allegations seriously.

In a National Task Force report last year, the incidents of sexual abuse among Penan women and children, lack of access to basic services, including healthcare and education, and problems related to registration of identity cards and birth certificates were highlighted.

There are about 16,000 Penans living in Sarawak with about 300 of them leading nomadic life styles.

Meanwhile, the police are still waiting for the feedback from 36 non-governmental organisations (NGO) pertaining to the claims that seven more Penan women in Baram were raped by timber company workers.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Deputy Director (Intelligence and Operation) Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the NGOs which called themselves the Penan Support Group had been asked to provide further information about their claims.

Earlier, Acyrl Sani and Sarawak CID chief SAC II Huzir Mohamed accompanied Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to a visit to the Penan settlement in Batu Bungan, Baram near Miri.

Acryl Sani said police had opened 3 investigation papers following the latest claims but would need more information because some of the names of the women concerned were pseudonyms.

"We are not taking things for granted or covering up incidents which are against the law. This does not arise at all," he said in a Bernama report.

The Penan Support Group, in a report titled "A Wider Context of Sexual Exploitation of Penan Women and Girls in Middle and Ulu Baram" recently claimed that the information on the sexual abuse of Penan women were obtained during a visit to the area in November last year.

Poor Penans... hope for a permanent solution very very soon and bring those perpetrators to justice swiftly.