Rafizi Ramli Threatens Legal Action Over Allegations of Misconduct
Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli has issued a strong warning, stating his intention to sue the Malaysian government over alleged misconduct linked to an agreement with global semiconductor giant ARM Holdings, provided he is not formally charged in court for the matter. Ramli asserts there is no evidence of abuse of power or personal financial gain on his part concerning the agreement.
He expressed that he would welcome the allegations proceeding to a trial, as this would provide him with the platform to “drag everyone” involved, including other ministers, and present evidence to substantiate his defence.
“However, if this issue does not culminate in my arrest or a court charge, I intend to sue the government for abusing its power and fabricating allegations in a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation,” Ramli stated during his recent podcast, “Yang Berhenti Menteri.”
The Member of Parliament for Pandan highlighted that the accusations against him, which he maintains are politically motivated, centre on two significant government policies: the Silicon Vision Programme and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). He emphasised that both these initiatives underwent rigorous scrutiny and multiple layers of governmental approval, including endorsement from the Cabinet.
The Silicon Vision Programme, as explained by Ramli, is a collaborative effort between the government and the UK-based semiconductor firm ARM Holdings, aimed at developing Malaysia’s inaugural semiconductor chips. Concurrently, the NETR serves as a comprehensive blueprint outlining the nation’s energy transition objectives up to the year 2050, and it necessitates substantial investments in the burgeoning green industry.
MACC Investigates RM1.1 Billion Agreement
Earlier this week, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed it is investigating an agreement between the government and a foreign entity, reportedly valued at approximately RM1.1 billion. The investigation was reportedly initiated following several complaints lodged by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). These complaints alleged that the agreement was concluded with undue haste and in a manner that was not in the best interest of the government.
Sources within the MACC indicated that the agreement was allegedly finalised without the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. Ramli, however, contends that these controversies are being deliberately amplified to cast him in a negative light.
Defamation Lawsuit Against Social Media Influencer
In a separate but related development, Rafizi Ramli announced his intention to pursue a defamation lawsuit against social media influencer Ariz Ramli, widely known as Caprice. The influencer had accused Rafizi of awarding a contract to a company allegedly connected to him.
Ramli stated that he had previously offered Caprice an opportunity to clarify his statements and issue an apology. However, this has not yet materialised. He also dismissed the “evidence” presented by Caprice, which reportedly included news articles and a speech delivered by Ramli at the NETR launch ceremony, as insufficient to support the accusations.
“If we consider that as valid evidence, then all ministers could be accused of abusing their powers simply for delivering speeches,” Ramli remarked sarcastically.
In a counter-move, Caprice reportedly sent a letter of demand to Rafizi yesterday. In this letter, Caprice is said to have demanded that Rafizi retract his statements concerning him and issue a public apology. Failure to comply, the letter warns, would result in Caprice proceeding with legal action against Rafizi.
