KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): Former minister of economy Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said that he will take legal action against the government if the allegations of corruption levelled against him regarding the US$250 million (RM1.11 billion) deal with Arm Holdings plc do not end with him being charged in court.

Talking on his podcast Yang Berhenti Menteri late on Friday (Feb 20), the Pandan member of Parliament said that allegations of corruption often become a form of intimidation and character assassination, instead of any charges being brought against an individual.

“If they bring this matter to the court, that would be good, as I get to drag everyone — Tengku Zafrul (former minister of investment, trade and industry), Anwar Ibrahim, Amir Hamzah (second finance minister), KSU (chief secretary), TKSU (deputy chief secretary) of Miti, everyone, to court.

 “But I think it will not end in court, because the aim is just to create a negative perception (against me). I am going to sit down with my lawyers, if this doesn’t end with a charge in court against me, I want to sue the government for misusing and creating an issue just for character assassination,” said Rafizi.

The outspoken former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) deputy president has been linked to an investigation being carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with regards to a government deal with a foreign company involving US$250 million.

The investigation followed a report filed by three Malay non-governmental organisations alleging misappropriation linked to the investment.

The investment involved an agreement signed in March 2025 between Malaysia and Arm, a UK-based semiconductor and software design company, under which the Malaysian government would pay Arm US$250 million over 10 years, in exchange for its intellectual property licences and computer subsystems (CSS). These assets are intended to be made available to domestic companies in the electrical and electronics sector.

Rafizi was economy minister at the time, but resigned from the Cabinet two months later after losing in the race for the PKR deputy president’s post.

Since then, he has been a vocal government critic, including on the recent controversy involving MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki, who is alleged to have held shares in a company above the limit allowed for civil servants.

Following the NGOs’ report, the MACC said it would review the documents and evidence submitted before deciding on further investigations.

On Feb 13, Rafizi said that the anti-graft agency was preparing a raid on him. On Feb 16, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahya confirmed that the anti-graft agency had opened an investigation into the matter.

According to Rafizi, the MACC has in the past investigated and remanded civil servants and paraded them in front of the media, even when there were no charges made against them.

“Imagine, how many civil servants and even ordinary persons whom, after being remanded and paraded in front of the media on allegations of corruptions, we don’t know whether they were charged or not, humiliated just because Azam Baki wanted to show how well he does his job,” said Rafizi.

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