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Rafizi's damning warning, 'Datuk Seri' titleship invites Farhash's public scrutiny, may expedite MACC intervention
Rafizi's damning warning, 'Datuk Seri' titleship invites Farhash's public scrutiny, may expedite MACC intervention

Focus Malaysia

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Focus Malaysia

Rafizi's damning warning, 'Datuk Seri' titleship invites Farhash's public scrutiny, may expedite MACC intervention

FIRST, it was former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli urging the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to open an investigation into Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak—the former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim—over allegations linked to a mineral exploration license in Sabah. Then later yesterday (July 25), news broke out that the high-flying corporate figure would be conferred a 'Datuk Seri' title today (July 26) in conjunction with the 84th birthday of Penang Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib. For the record, Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz heads the list of 1,530 recipients of state awards, honours, and medals, which also include Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Penang Malay Association president Tan Sri Dr Yussoff Latiff, and national badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Instead of being a recognition, the award spotlight on Farhash, the ex-PKR Perak chief, will likely fuel more public scrutiny, not to mention distrust of Anwar's much-shouted anti-corruption drive. Such is the message conveyed by Rafizi in a media statement, which called on Anwar to swiftly address the growing controversy surrounding Farhash, for failure to do so could undermine public trust in the government's reform agenda. 'The information revealed so far is sufficient for the MACC to open an investigation paper on Farhash, just as it has done for other figures accused of sudden wealth accumulation,' revealed the Pandan MP. Evidence of his meteoric rise: Farhash currently holds directorships in four other public-listed companies, namely MMAG Holdings Bhd, Apex Equity Holdings Bhd, Excel Force MSC Bhd, and Key Alliance Group Bhd. In April, Farhash became a substantial shareholder in Key Alliance with his purchase of 6.8 million shares in the open market. He owns a 5.546% interest now. On May 30, convenience store chain operator 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd announced that Farhash, who was appointed chairman on Jan 3, 2023, has resigned from his post to pursue other business interests. Farhash previously served as Anwar's political secretary and was also the Perak PKR chief. Local media recently reported that Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd, the state's mineral licensing agency, had awarded Bumi Suria — a company linked to Farhash — an exploration license for coal mining. According to the report, the company was granted exclusive rights to explore and search for minerals across 70,000 hectares in the Kalabakan and Gunung Rara forest reserves near the Kalimantan border. Farhash has denied the report and is demanding a public apology. This is not the first time he has been linked to controversial business dealings. In March last year, he emerged as a substantial shareholder in HeiTech Padu Bhd shortly before the company secured a RM190 million contract from the Road Transport Department. — July 26, 2025

No such mining permit issued: Sabah Lands and Surveys Department
No such mining permit issued: Sabah Lands and Surveys Department

Daily Express

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • Daily Express

No such mining permit issued: Sabah Lands and Surveys Department

Published on: Friday, July 25, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025 Text Size: Bernard and Farhash. PETALING JAYA: The Sabah Lands and Surveys Department clarified that no mineral prospecting licence had been issued to Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd, the company linked to businessman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. Director Datuk Bernard Liew said no prospecting licence was awarded to the company under the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960 and that allegations claiming otherwise were baseless. He added that the department was the authoritative body governing mining in the Bornean state. 'Any mineral exploration activity in Sabah can only be conducted after obtaining a legitimate licence issued under Sections 6 and 8 of the Sabah Mining Ordinance. And this is subject to technical conditions and other relevant laws that are already in place. The department views seriously any statement made via the media that can mislead the public,' he said in a statement. MalaysiaNow had reported that Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) had awarded Bumi Suria an exploration licence for coal mining. The report said it had been granted exclusive rights to explore and search for minerals on 70,000ha of forest reserve in Kalabakan and Gunung Rara near the Kalimantan border. SMM CEO Natasha Sim earlier said the state government agency was not a licence-awarding body, nor did it have jurisdiction to award or issue licences. On Monday, Farhash said his lawyers had served MalaysiaNow with a cease and desist letter, saying allegations that he owned Bumi Suria and that the company had been awarded a mineral prospecting or exploration licence in Sabah were false and defamatory. The lawyers said Farhash was merely a director and shareholder of Bumi Suria, and demanded that the article be removed from the website and all social media channels. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

[UPDATED] Farhash denies link to Sabah coal licence report, demands apology
[UPDATED] Farhash denies link to Sabah coal licence report, demands apology

New Straits Times

time21-07-2025

  • Business
  • New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Farhash denies link to Sabah coal licence report, demands apology

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak has denied a news report linking him to the awarding of a mineral exploration licence in Sabah. The former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is also demanding a full public apology from the news portal responsible for the publication. Earlier, an article published by MalaysiaNow claimed that a company owned by Farhash had secured a mineral exploration licence in Sabah from Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) for an area three times the size of Kuala Lumpur. In a cease and desist letter by his lawyers to MalaysiaNow, Farhash described the article, which claimed he owned Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd and that the company had secured a licence from a Sabah government agency, as "false and defamatory". His lawyers clarified that Farhash is merely a director and shareholder of Bumi Suria, and not its owner. "Our client categorically denies the truth of these assertions. Neither our client nor Bumi Suria has ever been awarded any mineral prospecting or exploration licence in Sabah. "These false and misleading statements have seriously damaged our client's reputation, exposed him to unnecessary public scrutiny, and wrongly implied involvement in improper or politically influenced business dealings," the letter said. The firm further said that the publication had failed to verify its claims with either Farhash or the relevant authorities before publishing the article, which it said breached fundamental journalistic standards. As such, the legal team has demanded that MalaysiaNow: 1. Cease and desist from further publication or dissemination of the article. 2. Remove the article from all platforms, including its website and social media channels. 3. Issue a full and unequivocal public retraction and apology to be prominently published within 48 hours. 4. Provide written confirmation of compliance within the same timeframe. The letter said that failure to comply would result in legal proceedings being initiated against the portal and any individuals responsible. It was reported earlier that Farhash had also lodged a police report over the matter at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman. He urged police to investigate the article under Section 499 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation and/or Section 211 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. SMM chief executive officer Natasha Sim vehemently denied the claims, saying the government-linked company does not have the authority to issue or award such licences. "SMM is not a licence-awarding body nor do we have jurisdiction to award or issue licences. "No company with the name of Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd has ever been issued or awarded any prospecting licence by the state government as of today," she told the New Straits Times. Since last year, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and other cabinet ministers had repetitively said that the state government had yet to issue any licence to anyone. Hajiji also said that when it comes to issuing mining licences, the state government will discuss matters such as equity, royalties, fees, and leases in cabinet meetings before reaching a decision.

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