KUALA LUMPUR: The National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) has moved swiftly to downplay the effects of the freeze on its assets by declaring that it was "business as usual" at the company.
Its executive director, Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh, said in a statement yesterday that despite freeze on the company's assets, there was no interruption or disruption to operations.
"Business is as usual in the company. Inventory of beef will continue to be supplied and customer orders will be fulfilled. There is no interruption nor disruption," he said.
He said clients, employees and vendors were informed that NFC's operations remained ongoing as a business concern despite a freeze on its assets.
"Our assets have been frozen by the authorities since December, not our operations which continue to function normally. And so I would like to reassure our clients and vendors as well as our employees they will continue to be served and gainfully employed," said Wan Shahinur.
The statement said NFC had only last week received a further import shipment of 1,500 head of cattle from Australia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on Saturday that NFC's assets had been frozen following the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe into the companyÂ's financial scandal.
MACC and police were investigating the NFC for possible criminal breach of trust following claims that no less than RM27 million in federal funds meant for the cattle-farming project were used to acquire real estate and property unrelated to cattle-rearing.
The NFC, headed by all three of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil's children, who are the company directors, was highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report for failing to meet production targets.
Pakatan Rakyat later highlighted NFC's alleged purchase of two luxury condos in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, and the alleged use of project funds to pay for the minister and her family's personal expenses.
It also claimed there was a transfer of resources to unrelated companies in Singapore, as well as the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz CLS350 for RM534,622 and two plots of land in PutrajayaÂ's Precinct 10 for RM3,363,507.
PKR further alleged that some RM10 million had been diverted towards the purchase of a luxury condominium unit in Singapore for ShahrizatÂ's family.
Shahrizat has denied any wrongdoing and stated she is "only the wife" of the projectÂ's chairman.
Following Najib's announcement on the freeze of assets, DAP senior adviser Lim Kit Siang had also called for a full public inquiry on the company, which he claimed should include deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was agriculture minister during the formation of the NFC.
Lim also commented on Shahrizat's recent decision to go on a three-week leave from her post, claiming that he believed she was 'pressured' to do so.
He also said that Malaysians should not expect Shahrizat to return to the cabinet or Parliament after the expiry of her leave on Feb 3, 2012.
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