Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has said that it was up to the public whether they wanted to accept the explanation given for the National Feedlot Corporation’s (NFC) “cattle condo” scandal.
Saying that the government “already knows the facts”, Muhyiddin had this to say after the NFC executive chairman Datuk Seri Dr. Mohamad Salleh Ismail had broken his three-week silence on the “cattle condo” scandal:
“We will leave that to the people to decide whether to accept the NFC’s explanation or not because the NFC has explained each issue that has surfaced.
“For us, the government, we know the truth. We don’t buy stories made up by the Opposition.”
Muhyiddin cannot be more wrong.
Malaysians not only want to hear what the NFC has got to say, but also what the government and in particular the Ministers directly involved in the RM300 million NFC scandal have got to say.
For instance, Muhyiddin was the Agriculture Minister who approved the RM300 million NFC project in 2006.
Would Muhyiddin have said in 2006 when approving the NFC project in 2006 that it was legally, morally and ethically proper for NFC to use 2%=interest RM250 million soft-loan to buy condos?
In fact, that is a question every Cabinet Minister must now answer, especially as Muhyiddin claims that the government “know the truth” – whether they think it is proper for NFC to use a 2%-interest soft loan meant to promote cattle production to achieve greater beef self-sufficiency to buy two luxury condominiums, whether this is not criminal breach of trust and a gross abuse of powers and public funds?
Muhyiddin should realise that it is not just the NFC executive chairman Salleh and his wife, the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who are in the dock, Muhyiddin and the entire present Cabinet are also in the dock over the NFC “cattle condo” scandal!
It is clear that the Auditor-General was unaware of the NFC’s “cattle condo” scandals when conducting audit of the National Feedlot Centre project from January to March 2011 or his strictures would be more scathing than describing it as a “mess” and having failed to achieve the 2010 production target of 8,000 head of cattle, with only 3,289 head of cattle or 41.1 per cent of the target set.
As Salleh has said that NFC has nothing to hide, he should volunteer to appear before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) which is meeting on Wednesday on the NFC issue, to put to rest all questions of impropriety, accountability and integrity swirling about the National Feedlot Centre and the NFC.
#1 by waterfrontcoolie on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 11:51 am
Just like the PKFZ, each department refused to act until green light is given. Issues are not considered based on facts but on who is involved. By the statement made by the DPM, he should continue to explain to the nation as to why he had given the lump sum to a Minister’s family who had no inkling of the business. There are thousands of even Bumi families who are in this business who needed assistance with the same conditions as given to the Minister. You gave away a multi-million ringgit prject and now you professed unable to explain. In that case, are fit to lead as future PM of this nation? We like you to tell us!
#2 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 12:21 pm
When one says the govt “already knows the facts” and it’s “up to the public whether they wanted to accept the explanation given by NFC on “Cow Gate” it implies:-.
1. NFC cannot give further more satisfactory justification than what it has already clarified to the public;
2. govt “already knows the facts” and is satisfied means public may not know certain of other facts which may explain why they are not satisfied whilst govt is satisfied;
3. govt does not need in the name of transparency and accountability to account to public what other further facts it knows that may explain the divergence between govt’s and public perception on Cow Gate;
4. that means public could draw the inference that govt knows all or has something to hide or simply couldn’t defend the position any longer or couldn’t care how else the public will conclude, now that the responsibility to decide has been shifted to the public, either case of which the govt could not do more or doesn’t care to engage in justification/explanation any longer.
#3 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 12:41 pm
The MalaysianInsider’s report (Nov 20th) reported TDM as having said that Umno is “weak and damaged” since 308 “One of the other problems affecting Umno, he said was its inability to respond to issues and accusations brought by the opposition”. “If we can respond it is fine but it becomes a problem when we cannot respond,” he said, explaining that for example if there were allegations of cronyism within the government, there should be a detailed explanation to alleviate any doubts on the matter”. However he did not explicitly refer to Muhyiddin’s “it’s up to public whether to believe NFC’s statement or not” as an example of inability to respond. Instead he fired at Pak Lah’s nepotism (“everyone knew about his son-in-law’s involvement” a reference to Khairy) and the PM (“But he (Najib) is busy and does not have enough time.” He couldn’t resist race baiting once again in saying “I had said 10 years ago we will be losing power but we are now losing power. For almost anything we have to ask the Chinese to support or else we are finished. “So in actuality we are the minority, anything we want to do, we will be asked, what will the Chinese get? If it is like this it will be difficult.” He blamed everyone (nepotism or cronyism) but himself.
#4 by boh-liao on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 12:56 pm
Ministers oredi said nothing amiss, $$$ given 2 d company and it is free 2 do what it wishes 2 do with d soft-loan
Dis is most likely d SOP of UmnoB/BN gomen, MIMO NRN (Money In Money Out, No Reply/Response Necessary)
In dis case, d PhD hubby so smart n creatif, made idle $$$ grew more $$$
$$$ used 2 buy COWs fr abroad, invest in 2 condos, mayb in restaurants too
Was any idle $$$ pumped in2 other instant $$$-generating ventures like: Bovine AH LONG Sdn Bhd, Bovine Lonely Hearts Escort, Pole Dance Bar, Branded Handbag n Diamond Ring Delivery Service, etc?
Or even in2 4-D numbers, Marina Bay Sands or Resorts World Sentosa? $$$ makes $$$ lor
PhD hubby was ex-TPM’s big boss; was he such an entrepreneur then manipulating TPM’s idle fund? Can anyone enlighten us?
#5 by k1980 on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 1:02 pm
Can Mr Moo answer this very important question in the interest of the taxpayers—
“HOW MUCH OF THAT RM250 million soft-loan HAS BEEN REPAID?”
I greatly fear that the answer is NONE!
#6 by k1980 on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 1:05 pm
It has been 5 years since that RM250 million loan has been given out. May Salleh please inform us how much profit he has made?
#7 by monsterball on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 1:10 pm
aiya…they never cheat..never lie …never wrong.
Lets have 13th GE and let Malaysians speak with their votes.
#8 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 1:14 pm
“For us, the government, we know the truth. We don’t buy stories made up by the Opposition.” It is disclosed by your own Auditor General. Buying Condo is not stories : its admitted by NFC, not one but two! The rest are questions – for accountability.
///Malaysians not only want to hear what the NFC has got to say, but also what the government and in particular the Ministers directly involved in the RM300 million NFC scandal have got to say.///
Ask or the terms of Soft Loan based on original letter of offer of the Soft loan and see what it says.
#9 by k1980 on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 1:27 pm
So far only umno’s Bung ‘Bocor’ Mokhtar has demanded an explanation from makcik mamak. Why are the other BN component parties so quiet over this scam? Has Viagra CSL also ‘borrowed’ RM 500 millions to rear pigs and so he is hoping no one would notice?
#10 by k1980 on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 1:40 pm
Ai Wei Wei, like Mohamad Salleh Ismail, also like to rear cows…..
http://www.taipeitimes.com/images/2011/11/20/p05-111120-a1.jpg
#11 by SENGLANG on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 3:00 pm
When a public listed company raised fund from the public the SC will be strict and want to know the exact purpose the fund is being raised. Later if the company used the fund other than its original purpose the directors of the company are deemed to have committed a serious offense that is criminal in nature and can put into jail. Example of this activity is exactly the same as say the company used the fund for investment if properties. The properties may be purchased in the name of the company and may generate rental income and have good return but it is still deemed illegal as the fund was for that original purpose, any other wise will be wrong.
It is simple though, but those Minister and the directors of NFC try to fool the people but telling lies. They are trying to justify what have been wrong in all sorts of reasoning.
The worst was that the minister include the DPM now saying that he will leave to the people to decide to accept or other wise this Phd. Dr.’s explanation. This could not most possibly come from a minister more so from a DPM. It could probably happen in Malaysia.
But think of it we need not to surprise as this was all this while BN behavior in not courage enough to own up their wrong doings. They will put all the blame to the opposition who has exposed what has happened.
NFC even have the courage to dispute what the Auditor General findings? If that was the case they should take up the case to AG office, and not denying if a “selective” press conference.
It is time and it is the last chance for Bn to take the bull by its horns and be man enough to admit that was wrong to use part of the 250 m allocation for the cattle project to invest in properties regardless how profitable the venture could be.
#12 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 3:02 pm
What about Noh’s statement that the Cabinet was not involved in the decision? RM250m soft loan with no repayment schedule made without the Cabinet involvedment? Someone screwed up one way or other…
The entire UMNO/BN govt stinks to high heaven from this incident. Its smell of utterly of lawlessness and breakdown of governance..
#13 by boh-liao on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 4:48 pm
History tends 2 repeat itself – remember a couple of recent examples
9Bio [also a couple, Dr, associated with MOH; also names with ismail n nor; also a centre in Negri Sembilan; huge sum of rakyat’s $$ – Google ‘9bio dr’ 4 info]
In UmnoB/BN vocab, no such thing as once bitten twice shy, rather it’s OMG! Wonderful, dat’s a great way of siphoning $$$ off
#14 by monsterball on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 4:51 pm
You must understand,,,,,,,,,PKFZ ripped off….also UMNO b is not involved.
If they say they are messengers from special people to save and protect one race.. ..some may actually believe that too.
#15 by casperclc on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 4:56 pm
This is becoming the standard reply. I remember Badawi saying the same “terpulanglah kepada raykat”, when queried about allege corruption in UMNO – cilaka, all them all – is what I’ll say to the years of plunder in UMNO/BN.
#16 by yhsiew on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 5:06 pm
The guilty had to be held accountable or it would encourage others to commit crimes. – President Benigno Aquino
#17 by monsterball on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 5:11 pm
Saying celaka is not enough.
Al must be investigated …summon and tried in courts.
We must recover billions…still held by cronies overseas..exactly like Marcos billions taken back by new government.
#18 by monsterball on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 5:20 pm
Local billionaires at such a young age doing nothing…must be arrested and tried in courts.
UMNO b has made all Malaysians look like idiots with their leader’s sons…brothers…relatives …..all become millionaires….overnight doing nothing.
To get Mahathir said his sons are smart..to be so filthy rich…is the greatest insult to all Malaysians.
What he was actually saying is he can do as he like as a Dictator.
And so we see…..Gadaffi smart children…what happened?
#19 by Loh on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 5:44 pm
///“For us, the government, we know the truth. We don’t buy stories made up by the Opposition.”///–Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin implies that they government knows the truth, and that action by NFC is unethical and possibly illegal. But the government chooses not to take action. Let the people decide if they can overthrow UMNO. So what?
#20 by monsterball on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 7:08 pm
Indirectly Muhyiddin is saying…it is another government secret project.
None of Malaysians and Opposition business.
Why be busy bodies?
#21 by monsterball on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 7:19 pm
He can moo moo here…moo moo there…moo moo everywhere.
He is PM in waiting. Anwar is PM in waiting.
People are waiting. The whole country is waiting.
What is Najib waiting for?.
No signs from Mecca. No more 72% support….down and down it goes.
Keep importing cows.
Beef is dearest amongst all meat to buy..supposedly to be the cheapest and be exporter…not importer.
Malaysians must know the truth.
Muhyiddin must talk like a cow..to protect a cowherd…buying Rm10 million condominium to rear cows.
#22 by Taxidriver on Sunday, 20 November 2011 - 9:28 pm
54 years of uniterrupted power has made UNMO/BN what it is today-cruel, materialistic and arrogant. They think it is their right to enrich themselves and their family members, stealing millions and billions ringgit from national coffer. Rakyat of all races must stop all this nonsense by voting them out in the coming General Elections. If we fail to do it now, our younger generations will suffer. Think and Act now before Malaysia goes bankrupt.
#23 by undertaker888 on Monday, 21 November 2011 - 7:32 am
Time to slaughter the umno cowherds. MACC what are you waiting for? 300 million is too big for you to count? NFC NFA.
#24 by k1980 on Monday, 21 November 2011 - 9:03 am
Salleh’s quotation– “Why worry, not my money”
#25 by Peter on Monday, 21 November 2011 - 11:39 am
Judging from the large number of comments from the people who can think for themselves, they have already said their piece. This is an outright abuse of the taxpayers’ money by the government to grant a RM250 million loan to a project undertaken by people who have neither the entrepreneurial or technical skill to do it, not to mention integrity and wisdom.
Everyone knows that Mooo..eee..din has been playing politics with Najib Razak, disagreeing with the PM in most of the critical issues, and a good example is the one over whether Malay or Malaysian comes first. Najib should take advantage of this NFC “cowgate” issue and bury this real cow politically for the good of the nation. Why is is he not doing that raises a doubt whether he himself has as many skeletons in his closet as Moo..eeee..din’s? God help Bolehland!!!!!!