Public disillusionment over the seriousness and integrity of government investigations into the National Feedlot Corporation "cattle condo" scandal may lead to dire consequences for BN if it is not resolved properly, said DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang.

NONETheir dissent, Lim (right) believes, may spark if Women, Community and Family Development Minister Sharizat Abdul Jalil, whose family stands accused in the NFC scandal, were to return from her three weeks leave of absence from the cabinet unscathed.

"Under the circumstances, Shahrizat's return to Cabinet on Feb 3 will only reinforce public disillusionment about the independence, integrity and professionalism of key law enforcement agencies, giving a fatal blow to Najib, Umno and BN in the coming 13th general election," he said in a statement today.

Prime Minister Najib Razak had said that he had talked to Shahrizat prior to her leave from ministerial duties, where she agreed to be investigated fully.

Lim however believed that the senator will not see a return to her former post, quoting Umno insiders who have expressed worries that the scandal may cost the Malay party dearly, if it is not handled and resolved in a quick and satisfactory manner, with the appropriate heads to roll.

 Open admission

Ha also pointed out that MCA and Gerakan leaders are openly admitting that Umno has become "rotten and corrupt", while pleading that there is nothing that the other BN components could do to check it, and adding that such sentiments have begun finding their way to the Internet.

"One immediate consequence of such public disillusionment will see Umno losing even more than the 30 parliamentary seats currently estimated, as well as making it impossible for Umno to defend several state governments, especially Negeri Sembilan," warned Lim.

NONESuch a loss would lead to Pakatan clinching the federal government with a slim majority.

Lim further explained that the public found it difficult to accept that it had taken Shahrizat (right) six months to admit the problems already pointed out by the Auditor-General and take leave.

Similarly, he said that the public is questioning why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) played footsie with the case, pushing it to the police commercial crimes division and then taking it back again.

Lim said that to the public, such dilly-dallying made MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamad's pledge that the anti-graft body would investigate all NFC allegations "without fear or favour, even if they involved high-profile individuals" seem to lack credibility.

"Has the MACC interrogated not only Shahrizat but also other cabinet ministers involved in the decision-making process approving the NFC project, including the Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and even the prime minister himself?" he ruminated further.