KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 27): Businessman Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak has filed a defamation suit against former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli over two videos published on social media.
Farhash, a former aide to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, filed the suit on Oct 10, through Messrs Ahmad Deniel, Ruben & Co, following Rafizi’s failure to apologise to Farhash in posting the defamatory videos on social media.
The first video was posted on July 25, 2025 and the second was on Aug 20,2025.
Farhash is seeking RM10 million general damages along with aggravated, exemplary, punitive damages and costs from this action from the former PKR deputy president.
The former Perak PKR chief said his troubles began in July, after claims surfaced that his company, Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd, was involved in getting a coal mining licence in Sabah. Both he and the Sabah Land and Surveys Department denied the allegation, and he lodged a police report.
He added that he filed a lawsuit that same month against the media outlets that reported the false claims. On Sept 9, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission cleared him of any wrongdoing.
On July 25, Rafizi published a video and article titled “Tangani Isu Farhash Elak Jadi Beban Lebih Besar Pada Kerajaan” (“Handle the Farhash issue or risk it becoming a bigger burden to the government”) on TikTok and YouTube.
Farhash claimed that Rafizi’s video was a personal attack against him and that he was being made a scapegoat for Rafizi’s benefit because he had once been Anwar’s political secretary.
On Aug 20, Rafizi released a video titled “Bukan Ismail Sabri, bukan KJ” (“Not Ismail Sabri or KJ”), where he suggested that the syringe attack on his son was linked to Farhash, based on information from a source he had met.
On Aug 22, 2025, Farhash’s lawyers sent Rafizi a letter demanding that he apologise and remove the Aug 20 video within 48 hours, in which Rafizi claimed he had met a whistleblower who exposed Farhash’s business dealings.
The two defamatory videos, Farhash said, was a terrible attack on his reputation and goodwill and resulted in him facing public odium from the society, although he had contributed a lot.
Farhash, who is on the board of advisors of Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia, executive chairman of Apex Equity Holdings Bhd, and a director of Berjaya Construction Bhd, claimed that Rafizi’s accusations linking him to the crime shocked the nation and caused him to be sidelined and criticised.
“Investors, industry players, my partners and acquaintances had lost confidence in me, as I was formerly Anwar’s political secretary and also held posts as directors in public-listed companies and other companies, and this affected my business opportunity and future investment,” Farhash said.
“I have to explain many times to clear my name and reputation. As a result, I face embarrassment, humiliation and injury to my personal and professional dignity as a result of what Rafizi said, including in the political field, although I had left it,” he added.
Farhash claimed that Rafizi’s allegations damaged his reputation and trustworthiness, especially in business circles, and that he was criticised by the public despite his previously good reputation.
What Rafizi said, Farhash added, could result in a loss of trust, confidence and perception to investors of the public-listed companies which he is involved in.
Farhash said the defamatory statements caused severe and lasting damage to his reputation, leading to a loss of credibility as a company director and former political secretary, and that his reputation could not be restored even by explaining or denying the claims.
A case management of Farhash suit was held on Monday before High Court deputy registrar K Vasugi.