Rafizi Ramli labels MACC probe intimidation and calls for Azam Baki’s suspension over alleged abuse of power claims

PETALING JAYA: Pandan MP Datuk Rafizi Ramli (pic) has described the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe into his alleged conduct as a “form of intimidation”, claiming it reflects a familiar modus operandi of targeting critics.

He also called for Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to be suspended immediately.

The former economy minister said the MACC had “suddenly become active” in investigating allegations of misconduct and corruption involving two policy matters linked to his tenure.

The probe centres on his alleged involvement in the Silicon Vision Programme and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).

Rafizi said the investigation began after he publicly called for Azam’s suspension and an independent inquiry following Bloomberg’s report on alleged misconduct within the MACC.

He said the alleged modus operandi was not new, referring to the 2022 controversy over Azam’s share ownership.

Rafizi noted that after questions were raised about Azam’s trading account and potential stock market breaches to be examined by the Securities Commission (SC), the MACC subsequently raided the SC over alleged misconduct involving its senior officers.

“These allegations against me — whose supposed amounts exceed those involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak — are a form of intimidation,” Rafizi said in a statement.

He added that he welcomed investigations by any party, as he was confident that no misconduct had taken place at his level or within the Ministry of Economy.

Rafizi stressed that both policies were personally launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and approved through multiple layers of government oversight, including Cabinet endorsement. He said they did not involve procurement decisions by his ministry.

He explained that the Silicon Vision Programme, launched in March 2025 with ARM, went through inter-ministerial committees and Cabinet approval, and was signed by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) under the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. Financial transactions were screened by the Ministry of Finance.

“To date, not a single piece of evidence has been shown that any public funds were misappropriated,” he said.

On the NETR, launched in August 2023, Rafizi said the roadmap facilitates private-sector renewable energy development, including a RM2.5 billion project by UEM Lestra in Segamat.

“Since when is a minister responsible for developing policy accused of misconduct over decisions made by a private company unrelated to the Ministry of Economy?” he asked.

He also alleged a coordinated social media campaign against him, singling out content creator Ariz Ramli, known as Caprice, for claiming that he had improperly influenced the UEM Lestra project.

Rafizi said he would give the influencer an opportunity to present the facts and apologise, failing which legal action would follow.

He warned that the recent attacks demonstrated the risks of allowing someone accused of misconduct to remain at the helm.

“The attacks against me show the dangers of allowing someone accused, such as Azam, to continue exercising power while under investigation.

“This situation creates the risk of abuse of power, with the MACC being used as a weapon against those who question him, as seen in the investigations against the SC in 2021 and against myself in 2026.

“That is why the appropriate action is to suspend Azam immediately, as should have been done by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week,” he added.

 The Sun Malaysia