Is Reformasi Rafizi being politically persecuted?

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No News Is Bad News

 Reformasi (Reformation) is no more a PKR concern. It is now a a national political issue.

Is Reformasi Rafizi being politically persecuted?

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13, 2026: Are former PKR deputy president and his Reformasi (Reformation) Team beginning to look like a real threat to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and his party?

Anwar is under pressure from the racial and religious bigoted Umno to call for a snap general election (GE).

GE16 is only due in 2027 but there are speculations, one after another, that Anwar may call for a snap GE16, possibly in October.

And, Anwar’s dream to be a second-term prime minister is being threatened by the former PKR Reformasi Team led by Rafizi.

No News Is Bad News reproduces an opinion piece posted by mkini:

Featured and Exclusive, Opinion - May 8, 2026

MACC’s puzzling probe on Rafizi, Chai explained

By P. Gunasegaram

 

The MACC probe on Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and former aide James Chai is rather puzzling – from everything we know neither are decision makers in the 10-year, RM1.1 billion government deal for the development of semi-conductor chips technology with Arm Holdings of UK.

To Malaysia’s detriment, adverse international attention is now focused on its investment climate and whether deals signed may be threatened by enforcement action, especially post earlier bribe allegations over a solar project which Rafizi denied. (There has been no action so far on this.) 

And even before the conclusion of investigations (by yesterday),  MACC chief Commissioner  Azam Baki already said on Tuesday that two people will be charged, a development which Rafizi rightly described as strange. Azam declined to name them but they are likely to be Rafizi and Chai.

“A decison already made”

Rafizi said,”As someone who still has to appear at the MACC to give a statement, such a statement (by Azam) came across as weird to me….This sounds like a decision has already been made even before the probe is completed.”

Indeed. There is an undue haste to charge some people who have no decisional authority while those who decided and signed on the contract are left alone. Paradoxically the decision to make a deal with Arm Holdings was allegedly made in haste, one of the things MACC is investigating. 

Rafizi said the final decision was made by the cabinet, three ministries were involved and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself had a role in it.

He was  responding in February to reports  that the MACC was investigating the deal following allegations made by some NGOs that the billion-ringgit deal was signed in haste, and it did not receive the agreements from the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

It was also alleged in the reports that several individuals were appointed to high positions within the foreign company (presumably Arm) after they resigned from the Ministry of Economy.

Deal brought to cabinet 3X

The Edge further reported: “Rafizi said that the proposal for the deal was brought to the Cabinet three times, involving meetings co-chaired and comprising the three ministries involved in the negotiations with Arm.

“To say that it was rushed is to accuse the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance II and Miti ministers too because they were all part of the process. In fact, they negotiated directly with Masayoshi Son without the Minister of Economy,” said Rafizi, the economy minister then. (Son is the head and major shareholder of Softbank, Arm’s 90 per cent shareholder.)

 

So far, none of them have denied Rafizi’s statement. Shouldn’t the MACC have called in all those who were involved in these meetings for questioning as well? There is no sign that they were, and if they were not, then the investigation on both Rafizi and Chai would have been woefully inadequate.

It is easy to understand why there is a perception that this investigation is politically motivated under such circumstances – Rafizi is now a vocal critic of  both PM Anwar, with whom he has fallen out, as well as Azam who has been investigated for buying shares obove his allowed limit.

On March 13 , Rafizi urged Putrajaya to reveal the full findings of a shareholding investigation into Azam, claiming that the probe had uncovered a total of RM14 million in shares held by the MACC chief commissioner.

However, the government has declined to reveal the findings so far. Azam’s last day with the MACC is May 12, after which a new commissioner, retired High Court judge Abdul Halim Aman takes over. Azam seems rather hasty to press charges against Rafizi before he leaves.

Election-related?

The other thing hanging over this investigation is that there seems to be a general view that elections are around the corner. If Rafizi and Chai are charged before that in court, then Rafizi’s name is smeared even before the elections.

Rafizi has already said he will be contesting in Pandan but not under the PKR banner, a clear indication that he may contest as an independent or a new party formed by him and his supporters. Including him, that may amount to seven MPs in safe PKR seats currently. They won’t be that safe for PKR anymore. 

The Madani government would be keen to undermine that effort as it is a direct threat to its existence. Any dirt that can be dug up on Rafizi and reduce his influence with the electorate would be welcomed.

Clear, everpresent danger

But there is clear, ever-present danger in such moves. Azam’s credibity as the MACC chief is at an all-time low, considerably eroded not just by the share trading scandal but by unprecedented allegations reported in Bloomberg and widely circulated which said that the MACC and Azam helped a “corporate mafia” to gain control of listed companies.

Thus when a former economy minister, known for whistle-blowing, exceptional courage, integrity and a strong stance against any form of corruption, is hauled to court on what is perceived to be trumped up charges with little evidence, there is likely to be a strong public backlash against this government.

On top of that when a deal with Arm Holdings, a respected international company in the area of research and development of semi-conductor chips, whose major shareholder is Softbank with a 90 per cent stake, is called into question needlessly, it raises considerable investor concerns. 

 

New investors may be reluctant to invest in Malaysia when political considerations and apparent use of regulatory agencies for political persecutions come to the fore. The companies involved are far from insignificant.

SoftBank, in which legendary software and AI entrepreneur Masayoshi Son holds a near 30 per cent, has a market value of some US$200 billion or RM800 billion. Arm Holding is SoftBank’s move into chip development controlling 90 per cent of the company and is worth some US$250 billion, a trillion ringgit. 

The deal Malaysia has with Arm Holdings is for access to its proprietary intellectual rights over 10 years, not as it is implied a one-off large payment of RM1.1 billion in reports which use the figure constantly in the headlines. 

A licensing arrangement

It’s effectively a licensing arrangement for access to technology and expertise for Malaysia to develop its own chips. It’s aim is to move the Malaysian semiconductor value chain up to design instead of mere manufacturing as it is now, one of the few efforts to raise capability.

In future, it could involve in addition to chip development, artificial intelligence collaborations too as Softbank owns or invests billions in companies across AI, software, ecommerce, telecommnications and robotics. It’s a useful alliance.

What a pity that such a noble endeavour now appears to be mired deeply in political machinations. And what a loss to the country. Where will our politicians stop? Will there be no limits to their impropriety in the name of holding on to power?

P Gunasegaram says among the worst things we can do is hinder the good work of others.

Rafizi, Nik Nazmi to unveil ‘new political direction’ on Sunday

FMT Reporters

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli says they have carefully considered the various views and factors in determining the next chapter of their political journey.

 Rafizi Ramli (left) and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad resigned as economy minister and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, respectively, in May 2025.

PETALING JAYA: Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad are expected to announce their “new political direction” on Sunday.

In a post on X today, Rafizi said both of them had taken time to carefully consider various views and factors in determining the next chapter of their political journey.

“I welcome Malaysians from across the country and from all walks of life who wish to advance a progressive political movement to join us at this event,” he said.

The public event, which is also expected to be livestreamed, is scheduled to take place at the PJ Performing Arts Centre at 2pm.

In a separate post on X, Nik Nazmi said Malaysians needed politics that was progressive, moderate, and truly people-centred.

“Come, let’s rebuild hope for Malaysia!” he said.

Rafizi and Nik Nazmi resigned as economy minister and natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, respectively, in May 2025.

This came after Rafizi lost the PKR deputy president’s post to Nurul Izzah Anwar in the party elections. His running mate, Nik Nazmi, also failed to retain his vice-presidency.

In April, Rafizi said he would decide on forming a new political party within the next two months, adding it would not be a unilateral decision.

He had also said he was still looking into the best way to push for reforms, whether within the party or outside of it.

Rafizi’s ties with the PKR leadership turned frosty after the PKR polls in May 2025 and he has been publicly critical of the government and the party since.

He claimed that PKR was seeking to force a by-election in his constituency, after multiple calls were made for him to resign over his criticism of the government and the party.

Rafizi has hinted at leaving PKR after Parliament is dissolved and to defend his Pandan seat.

He survived an attempt to remove him as Pandan PKR chief at the division’s annual general meeting in April. Forty-two division members voted against the motion to sack or suspend him as Pandan PKR chief – just eight more than the 34 who were for it.