The Straits Times on January 4, 2012, reported that Wanita Umno leader and Minister for Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has denied rumours that she is resigning over a scandal, saying that she would leave the matter to the Prime Minister. Ms Shahrizat remains under pressure to resign from her positions in the Cabinet and UMNO after allegations about a RM 250 Million(US$ 79 Million) cattle farming scheme, National Feedlot Corporation (NFC), operated by her husband and two children.
Her husband, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail, holds a doctorate in fermentation technology. Once he was the Head of Food Science at the Agricultural University, now known as Putra University, Malaysia. His son Izran Salleh, 31, the NFC chief executive officer , has a degree in computer science from California State University. His other son,Izmir, 27, is NFC executive director. His daughter Izzana, 25, who majored in biotechnology from Cal Poly Pomona university, has worked on colorectal cancer research at the non-profit Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the US. Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail said their children all graduated from universities in the United States and had high-paying jobs there and that he forced them to return to build the local cattle industry.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) first brought up the issue after the Auditor General reported that the cattle farming project failed to meet the production target. The party has since made several revelations. They include:
• Purchase of two multimillion ringgit condominium units in Bangsar.
• Alleged use of project funds for Shahrizat’s personal expenses and overseas trips as well as those of her family.
• Transfer of resources to Singapore and purchase of a Mercedes-Benz car for about RM 530,000.
• Purchase of two plots of land in Putra Jaya involving RM 3.36 million.
• Purchase of a luxury condo in Singapore for RM 10 million
In addition to the opposition parties, some within UMNO, including influential former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, have asked her resign.
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