Rafizi Warns Anwar Farhash Link Risks Another Jho Low Scenario

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Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has cautioned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that the latter’s ties with ex-aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak could expose the government to the same pitfalls that led to the 1MDB scandal, if left unchecked.
In an interview with KiniTV’s “Explain Sikit, Kini!” podcast, the former economy minister likened the situation to fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, whose central role in the 1MDB scandal helped topple the BN government under Najib Abdul Razak.
Najib is now behind bars for financial crimes linked to 1MDB, earning the dubious distinction of being Malaysia’s first prime minister to be convicted and imprisoned.
“After two or three years, I think if this government is not careful, it could fall into the same trap as previous administrations, where hidden hands, unaccountable to the public, wield influence.
“If we’re not careful, yes. I think Malaysia has already been burned once by the Low saga… I don’t think we want to allow even a fraction of that to happen again.
“The question of whether this could turn into another Low case, well, anything that gives undue influence to an unaccountable, unelected figure is exactly what we must avoid. But I do think the risk exists,” said the Pandan MP.
Jailed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and fugitive Jho LowRafizi warned that the situation now is similar to how it was during the early days of Low and 1MDB.
He also vowed to “keep digging and piecing the story together”.
“From my own experience, we cannot take such talk lightly. When you begin to hear consistent chatter from multiple stakeholders, you must pay attention. That’s how it was with Low and 1MDB, and that’s why I won’t take chances.
“For now, my appeal to Anwar is this: do not take the same route. We’ve been down that road before.
“If something does happen and it is later proven true, then Anwar and PKR will be the ones who have to bear the cost, and that would be a real pity, especially for a party that claims to stand for reform,” he added.
Farhash’s considerable influence
Rafizi stressed that Farhash’s alleged influence, despite not holding a top party position, raises serious accountability concerns and risks undermining formal party leadership.
Recounting the timeline, he said that Farhash only became influential after 2018, when PKR entered the federal government and Anwar was seen as prime minister-in-waiting.
Rafizi said he himself stepped away from politics at that time, and did not know Farhash personally. However, he said that by 2019, Farhash had evidently gained significant influence.
“I don’t think it was just me. Others in the party also raised this matter because there must be accountability.
“We cannot have a situation where senior party leaders with official positions are seen as less influential than a hidden hand.
“This is especially worrying if that hidden hand is perceived as the ultimate gatekeeper, someone who could grant access to Anwar, who at the time was prime minister-in-waiting.”
PM Anwar Ibrahim with his ex-aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak (second left)Rafizi revealed the issue had been raised before, and during the 2022 party election, it became one of the biggest concerns.
“I discussed the matter directly with Anwar in my capacity as deputy president, heading into the 15th general election.
“The understanding was that Farhash should step back. He did not win any party post, and the party must function as an organisation with accountability.
“That understanding was part of the reason he did not contest, and the impression given by Anwar was that Farhash was no longer involved in politics,” Rafizi added.
Revived speculations
However, he lamented that once Anwar became prime minister, the chatter resurfaced.
“First from party members, then from civil servants, and later from people dealing with the government. At first, I did not believe it. But gradually, bit by bit, the chatter grew louder,” he said.
Rafizi pointed out that if the grapevine consistently carries speculations that several appointments bear Farhash’s influence, and then it materialises, that does not bode well for the government.
Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli“That is, with hidden hands wielding influence without any accountability to the public. If Farhash were, for instance, a vice-president of the party or even deputy president, then he would be answerable in Parliament, he would need the people’s mandate, his views would be on record and could serve as a reference in the future. That would not cause such unease.
“But as a government elected on reformist principles, my position has always been clear: we must avoid such situations. Mere denials are not enough anymore, because by now I think we have crossed that threshold,” Rafizi added.
Malaysiakini has repeatedly sought Farhash’s comments on Rafizi’s remarks but has not received a response as of press time.
Allegations against Farhash
Farhash was linked to two high-profile allegations recently, one of which relates to the controversial Sabah mining licences.
On July 21, MalaysiaNow published documents allegedly proving that Farhash had received authorisation to prospect for minerals across a massive forest reserve in Sabah.
Farhash, however, dismissed the report as fake, lodged a police report against the portal, and sued for defamation.
State-owned Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) Sdn Bhd and its CEO, Natasha Sim, who were implicated in the case, also took the matter to court, seeking gag orders against MalaysiaNow and its editor, Abdar Rahman Koya, over articles on the Sabah mining scandal.
MalaysiaNow editor Abdar Rahman Koya (centre)On Sept 9, the MACC cleared Farhash of alleged links to the Sabah mining scandal, after investigations revealed that no exploration licence was issued to a company owned by the businessperson.
MACC chief Azam Baki told a press conference that investigation papers were submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which found that no charges can be brought against any party.
Farhash’s name was also linked to a recent syringe attack on Rafizi’s son at a mall in Putrajaya. He, however, denied any involvement in the case, calling the accusation “crazy”.
Amid an ongoing investigation, Rafizi said at a press conference in Parliament on Aug 14, that the attack could be linked to his recent meeting with a “group of whistleblowers” holding information on a scandal implicating a “certain individual”. He later identified that individual as Farhash.
- Mkini

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