Rafizi, Subang MP, deputy minister hit with sex video extortion threat

Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli revealed a threat he received via email telling him to pay US$100,000 or a gay sex video of him would be released.

Taking to Instagram today, Rafizi posted a video saying he received a message from Subang MP Wong Chen, who received a similar threat.

Rafizi said they had received screenshots of the videos in question.

"We shared screenshots. Looks like we're accused of sleeping with the same man," Rafizi said, visibly amused.

He said they both received the email yesterday, adding that Wong's team had since lodged a police report.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Wong briefly said he would give the police room to investigate the matter.

Malaysiakini also reached out to Subang Jaya district police chief Wan Azlan Mamat, who confirmed that a report had been lodged and that investigations were ongoing.

Separately, Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Chan Foong Hin told Malaysiakini that he had received the same threat yesterday morning.

"I instructed my office to lodge a report with MCMC," he said.

He added that he received the email on his official ministry account.

Rafizi had earlier linked the threat to an attack on his son last month, which he had in turn connected to a whistleblower meeting he attended on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s former aide, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.

However, Chan raised the possibility that this had happened to other politicians.

AI video

In Rafizi’s video, he attributed the creation of the video to artificial intelligence (AI).

"I think the real purpose is to hack my electronic devices, and once hacked, then even bigger slander can be made," he said.

He also revealed that his electronic devices are frequently the victim of hacking attempts.

"I have been a target as many as four times in the past nine months and received warnings from Apple," he said, sharing screenshots of the notifications.

The first was dated Nov 14, 2024, and the remaining three occurred on March 6, June 25, and Sept 3 this year.

According to the most recent notification, the attacks were from mercenary spyware, also known as commercial spyware.

The Apple Support website describes mercenary spyware as extremely expensive and complex, as well as having a historical association with state actors.

The site says that this type of spyware is often deployed against journalists, activists, politicians and diplomats.

Rafizi opined attacks on him through false videos, fake news and hacking will continue.

"Many think it's easy to become a politician, but if we try to have our own stand or expose corruption or try to fight the rampant vested interests, in reality our daily lives will continue to be disrupted like this," he added.

He urged the public to conduct checks if they receive strange emails and odd videos or pictures of him.

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