MalaysiaNow probed over Sabah project exposé involving Farhash

The editor of MalaysiaNow has been summoned for questioning following the news portal's report last month linking Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's former aide, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, to a mineral exploration licence scandal in Sabah.

The news portal reported that a police officer in Kota Kinabalu had informed them that the investigation follows a complaint lodged by Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM), the state agency headed by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, which is at the centre of the scandal.

"An article has been published in MalaysiaNow about SMM, which is said to contain confidential documents," police reportedly told MalaysiaNow's editor in a message, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 203A of the Penal Code for leaking confidential documents.

The news portal reported that it is also being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998, for improper use of network facilities and services.

On July 24, MalaysiaNow published an audio clip tied to the allegation that the said mining exploration licence in Sabah was approved for a company linked to Farhash.

According to the report, the recording was purportedly from a meeting in May 2024, involving state government-owned firm Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd’s (SMM) board, which is chaired by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

The clip was also uploaded to YouTube and TikTok.

MalaysiaNow claimed 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.

No approval

To support its report, MalaysiaNow also subsequently released letters, meeting minutes and excerpts from a recorded SMM board meeting chaired by Hajiji, which approved the applications from Bumi Suria and its Indonesian joint venture partner PT Bayan Resources.

On July 21, when the allegations first surfaced, SMM denied that any company linked to Farhash was granted a prospecting licence in the state.

SMM CEO Natasha Sim said that based on records, no companies owned or linked to Farhash had been awarded such a licence.

Farhash also issued a denial, as well as a cease and desist letter against MalaysiaNow over its article, which contained the allegation.

On July 25, SMM said it granted conditional permission to Bumi Suria to apply for a prospecting licence, but it was later cancelled after the company failed to submit the required documents.

It said that on March 24, after Bumi Suria failed to file the required documents, SMM issued an official letter of cancellation, which it accused MalaysiaNow of malicious omission.

SMM said it would also initiate legal action against the portal.

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