Shahrizat’s political future is my prerogative, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak dismissed speculation today over Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s possible resignation, stressing to reporters here that it is his prerogative as the prime minister to decide her future.

The prime minister added that the issue was not even raised as widely as expected during tonight’s Barisan Nasional (BN) supreme council meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.

“No, no, not discussed here. And it is the prerogative of the prime minister,” he told a press conference after the meeting.

Najib was commenting on talk that Shahrizat allegedly refused to resign from her political and government posts, despite widespread criticism over her alleged link to the ongoing National Feedlot Centre (NFC) controversy.


Since the controversy hit headlines last year, Shahrizat has faced repeated calls for her resignation from those among Umno and BN’s senior leadership circles who feel the politician’s grip on power will be a liability to the ruling pact in the coming polls.

Despite this, however, the Wanita Umno chief has yet to succumb to the mounting pressure. The BN-led government has also yet to reprimand Shahrizat for her alleged involvement in the NFC.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the matter was not raised as expected during this afternoon’s Cabinet meeting.

Earlier today, former prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, advised Shahrizat not to “love” her post to the extent of refusing to let it go even if the move would be good for Umno.

Dr Mahathir, who late last year expressed support for Shahrizat’s resignation, pointed out to the senator that she would eventually have to part with her post in the future.

“We must always think about the problems caused to the party ... that is why when I was there (in Umno) for so long and people were getting bored, I decided to resign.

“So do not love your post so much that you refuse completely to part with it ... Eventually, we will have to part with it,” he told reporters after a function at Perdana University here.

PKR has repeatedly attacked the NFC project with various allegations surrounding the “loans” of over RM84 million given by the NFC to companies owned by Shahrizat’s family including RM13.8 million for two luxury condominiums in Bangsar.

The opposition party also pointed out that RM5 million was spent on the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz, land in Putrajaya and disbursement of RM588,585 in cash to companies belonging to her family as well as over RM455,000 issued to tour agency Impian Global Network Services.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said yesterday that the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp), which is run by Shahrizat’s family, had breached its loan conditions for the NFC with the federal government.

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

The senator applied for three weeks’ leave from her ministerial duties last month after new allegations of bribery surfaced. She has since resumed her duties.

Last Wednesday, she was called in for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

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.


By Clara Chooi February 15, 2012