(The Star) - Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has slammed her detractors for calling her to resign over the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) issue.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said there were ulterior motives to such calls.

“If you look at the background of those who made the calls, they have political motives,” she said after launching the Perak Wanita Umno election machinery strengthening programme at Kampung Bakar Bata here yesterday.

She said this in response to calls that she resign over the controversy of the NFC, headed by her husband Datuk Dr Mohamad Salleh Ismail.

New look: Sharizat slamming her detractors after the launch of the Perak Wanita Umno election machinery strengthening programme in Beruas yesterday.

Asked about threats by PKR that there would be more exposes on the NFC, Shahrizat said: “Such happenings will only make us stronger.”

Earlier in her speech, Shahrizat said that in her 30 years in politics, this was the one time she had been really tested.

“Maybe Allah felt I was having it good all this while and wanted to test my faith,” she said.

Shahrizat also slammed her detractors for attacking her when she was down.

“You are not being a gentleman if you do that,” she said.

Last week, her deputy, Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, joined the chorus of critics asking Shahrizat to take responsibility and resign.

In BATU PAHAT, Umno supreme council member Dr Mohd Puad Zakarshi said the NFC issue had nothing to do with Shahrizat but certain groups were trying to link her to the matter.

He called on the NFC management to clear all allegations.

“If this is not done, Sharizat's name will continue to be dragged into the issue,” he said.

“It's important for the NFC to explain as keeping quiet will only cast a negative perception on both Shahrizat and the Government,” Dr Puad said after distributing the RM500 1Malaysia aid (BR1M) at Jalan Timah Sari yesterday.

On the RM100mil defamation suit filed by Shahrizat against PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli for claiming that she misused Federal loans meant for the NFC, Dr Puad said: “It is not enough for only Shahrizat to sue those making the allegations.

NFC should sue them as well to prove that the allegations are not true.”

Shahrizat had also named Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin in her suit.