Purported audio clip on 'Farhash-linked firm' allegation revealed

News portal MalaysiaNow has published an audio clip tied to the allegation that a coal mining exploration licence in Sabah was approved for a company linked to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s former aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.

According to the report, the recording was purportedly from a meeting in May 2024 involving the Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) board, which is chaired by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

The clip has been uploaded to YouTube and TikTok.

Malaysiakini is contacting SMM CEO Natasha Sim and the Chief Minister’s Office for comments.

MalaysiaNow claimed that the recording proved Hajiji had voiced support for the company - Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd - linked to Farhash but there was purportedly some reservation expressed by state secretary Safar Untong.

"But the area is too big, Datuk Seri, 70,000ha," a voice is heard saying, which MalaysiaNow attributed to Safar.

However, another voice - which the report claimed was Hajiji’s - responded: "Yes, we will get to that later. The important thing is that we approve its application."

Previously, Sim denied that SMM awarded an exploration licence to companies owned or linked to Farhash. This included Bumi Suria and Borneo Bumi Sdn Bhd.

“None,” she told Malaysiakini, stressing that SMM does not have the authority to issue licences.

‘Cache of evidence’

Following this, MalaysiaNow published documents allegedly proving that Farhash received authorisation to prospect for minerals across a massive forest reserve in Sabah.

The news portal said that the cache of evidence comprising correspondence, corporate filings, board minutes and an audio recording, was purportedly provided by an insider at SMM.

MalaysiaNow, however, at the time said that it chose to withhold the purported audio clip, which would provide additional corroboration for its report.

Details in the Companies Commission documents it published were also redacted, and only excerpts from the meeting minutes were made public.

Farhash had dismissed the report as fake, slapping MalaysiaNow with a legal letter and lodging a police report against the portal.

‘No retraction’

In its response to the legal letter, MalaysiaNow said that it would not retract the original report.

"The article referred to will remain published, as it constitutes fair and accurate reporting on matters of public interest, supported by credible and verifiable evidence.

"In view of the above, your client is at liberty to pursue whatever legal recourse he deems appropriate. Should he choose to commence legal proceedings, our client is fully prepared to contest the same vigorously," it said.

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