My knee jerk reaction to this issue would
be similar to everyone else. Another project, another business opportunity for
those with the right connections to the corridors of power in Putrajaya. Nudge
nudge, wink wink say no more! I
mean if the auditor general says the project is in a mess – then it is as if
GOD himself have spoken! Not Pakatan Rakyat, not Jinjang Joe, not Mat Ludah but
this Auditor General who is almost, but not quiet, GOD himself - in as far as government spending is concern!
Audit Mandate
2.2. The Audit of government revenues is
provided for in Section 6(a) of the Audit Act which reads "The Auditor
General shall in his audit make such examination as he may deem necessary to
ascertain whether all reasonable precautions have been taken to safeguard the
collection and custody of public moneys or other moneys subject to his
audit". Section 5 of the Audit Act also allows the Auditor General
"to examine, enquire into and audit the accounts of the Federation in such
manner as he may deem fit."
2.3. The various revenue laws also contain
provisions allowing the Auditor General free and unimpeded access to all
financial records. For example, Section 138 (4) of the Income Tax Act, 1967
provides that "Nothing
in this section shall prevent the production or disclosure of classified
materials to the Auditor General (or to public officers under his direction and
control) or the use of classified material by the Auditor General, to such an
extent as is necessary or expedient for the proper exercise of the function of
his office".
Translation: Auditor General found NFC to
be in a ‘mess’.
And since then all that has been revealed
by a very very mischievous PKR and other ‘avenging angels’ indicates that there is
some explaining to be done by NFC. Explaining has been done by NFC, but here
is the problem:
Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we
set out to deceive.
Common sense tells us
that when you are in the cattle business you have no business to be in real
estate. Get real lah. Cattle…real estate…real estate…cattle…where got
connection? We are not interested that you have got a
yield of 22.6% as against 2.75 % for the money invested in the condo. You were
given that RM$250 million loan for a specific purpose.
The National Feedlot Centre which is located on an earmarked 5,000
acres of land in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan is the envisioned centre of production
for beef and beef products. As a High Impact Project under the Ninth Malaysia
Plan, National Feedlot Centre project will be instrumental in attaining the 40%
self-sufficiency for beef production by 2010, as targeted by the Ministry of
Agriculture and Agro-based Industries.
National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) which been
entrusted as the integrator of the project and will actively advance and promote
the interests of the feedlot industry; develop environmental and animal welfare
standards, quality assurance and training programs and working to keep feedlot
operators abreast of emerging best management practices.
No mention of real estate, no mention of condos, no mention of Mercedes.So how?
The Rakyat are already
upset that PDRM has gone into the ‘selesai’ business and Razak Baginda into the
‘Submarine’ business - now you are
going into the real estate business! If we continue to close one eye and shut the other then
pretty soon UMNO might want to go into the ‘ada projek’ business – and where
will it all end? Petronas going into the shipping business? Even Mahathir will not agree to that...or will he?
The CEO said something about ‘social
obligations’..careful there. Some smart aleck will ask you about that Mercedes purchase
– hard to talk about social obligation when you buy a foreign car when you can
buy Malaysian! So I suggest you keep away from those kind of claims.
Social
responsibility is an ethical
ideology or theory that an entity,
be it an organization
or individual, has an
obligation to act to benefit society at large. Social responsibility is a duty
every individual or organization has to perform so as to maintain a balance
between the economy and the ecosystem. A trade-off always exists between
economic development, in the material sense, and the welfare of the society and
environment. Social responsibility means sustaining the equilibrium between the
two. It pertains not only to business organizations but also to everyone whose
any action impacts the environment.[1]
This responsibility can be passive, by avoiding engaging in socially harmful
acts, or active, by performing activities that directly advance social goals.
While we are on social obligations I think
that employing family does not constitute doing something that would benefit
society at large….so do not talk too much about you being able to persuade your
children to work for NFC – unless they volunteer to work gratis.
As for the family
sacrificing all for the sake of our nation – let me suggest something. Show
them how much each and every member of your family has earned, their perks and
all associated expenses. I am sure you must pay them market rates. That will
shut up all those people who ask you what your family have really sacrificed
for the nation.
Suggested guideline : If any of your family earns more then
what the Market will pay for those similarly qualified then just skip this
part! …get my drift?
Tell that wife of yours
not to be spooked about what PKR is doing – they are just scoring political
points. Tell her Deny! Deny! Deny!
Agree with you that the RM$250 million is a
loan not a grant. Suggest you provide details of loan repayment and interest
charge – that will shut up those PKR guys! But you did say that there were some
concessions given – I hope those concession are not too ‘generous’ or it will
bring up charges of cronyism – maklumlah that wife of yours is in the cabinet. Now days you cannot be too careful.
Travelling expense of RM827,000. I agree
that it is just 0.3 per cent of
project value - very small lah –
but you know lah these rakyat only see the many, many, many zeros after the numbers – so
better if you give them the full list of who went where and why.
P.S make sure
that the details do not show your family traveling as a group - nanti they start making claims that
trips made were not work related and instead are ‘family orientated’ business trip.
Remember that Toyo guy making the 'work related' trips to Disney Land with his family? Messy business!
Remember that business of Lingam traveling
overseas with that legal guy? Messy business again! I can just see Sharizat
nodding in agreement and saying “Correct! Correct! Correct!
Last but not least, you mentioned project
viability. From my past experience (when I was operating that Burger Stall in Padang Brown in Penang), the best way to handle this is to open your books to
independent auditors and they will prove you right (ahem....hopefully!).
You said
that big projects require at least 3 years to start making money – so camna…how
long has NFC been in operation…and is it making money yet? If not do what I advise before...diam diam aja!
Tell Sharizat that being a former resident
of Bangsar I will always listen to what she has to say before I decide on
issues relating to her – but this time around she has told us that she knows
nothing about this NFC thing. I hope you have not been keeping all this
happenings within NFC away from her! Despite now knowing what
we know about NFC she is keeping an arms length distance from it all…I hope the
same in not happening in bed!
But I would be the first to agree that you
should not get Sharizat involve in your business dealings because people will
say that you used her position to
get that RM250 million loan from the Barisan Government. People are so
unkind.
PS
You have the right lawyer on your payroll –
I am told that Shafeeee guy has the right connections way to the top!
I know that it does not look too good right now for you and NFC...and of course the family....but as long as Sharizat is in the cabinet...still got hope lah! Last time I checked she is still in...I think! All the best.
