Last Updated: 7:56pm, Nov 07, 2013

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 7): PKR lawmaker Zuraida Kamaruddin wants Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to explain the "sloppy" tender process of awarding the National Feedlot Centre project (NFC) to an inexperienced company.

She insisted that Muhyiddin, as the minister of the portfolio (Muhyiddin was the agriculture minister when the tender was awarded in 2006), should take responsibility and resign immediately.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in its 2012 annual report noted that the ministry had failed to conduct its due diligence and select a competent company to handle the project.

MACC, in offering recommendations to improve the tender process, stated that the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) did not have sound technical competence or a strong financial background.

Zuraida noted that awarding a contract of national importance to an inexperienced company showed Muhyiddin's 'inability' to conduct proper and efficient tender process.

"Shahrizat did her part, she took on the responsibility and resigned. Muhyiddin should come forward and explain why the tender process was so sloppy," she said.

"The government's representatives on the NFC's board of directors should not be the only one taking the fall," Zuraida told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Shahrizat, who was the women, family and community development minister, resigned at the height of controversy which involved her husband Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail and their children - who together owned NFCorp.

The opposition had accused the company of using a RM250 million soft loan meant for the cattle-farming scheme to finance luxury properties in Kazakhstan and Singapore worth at least RM45 million as well as other projects unrelated to the company's core business.

Following public uproar, Mohamad Salleh was charged with criminal breach of trust over the purchase of two units of condominium in Kuala Lumpur and myriad of other charges last year.

The project was then halted and re-tendered last year. However, the plan to takeover of NFCorp's RM250 million debt by a Japanese company was cancelled following a stalemate.

Zuraida also pinpointed on Shahrizat's new appointment as an advisor to the prime minister as the scandal had marred her reputation as a minister.

"Given the situation, is it comprehensible that Shahrizat has been appointed as the Prime Minister's special adviser?" she asked.

"This has caused many recipients of government loans to have an unconcerned and callous attitude when it comes to managing funds." said Zuraida.

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