SHAH ALAM: Former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said he has yet to be served with any legal documents from businessman Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, who earlier filed a defamation suit against him.
“There’s nothing so far. I haven’t heard anything from my lawyer, and I myself haven’t been served yet,” Rafizi told reporters here when asked about the lawsuit on Saturday (Nov 1).
“Usually, when someone sues you, they must personally serve the documents to you.
“They file it in court, and then they serve it to you. But my lawyer hasn’t received anything, and neither have I,” he said.
Rafizi added that it was possible that Farhash’s lawyers had filed the suit electronically or made certain amendments before proceeding with formal service.
“Maybe he filed it electronically in court or made amendments first before serving – maybe, I don’t know. But as of now, we have not been served,” he said.
Recently, The Edge reported that Farhash filed the lawsuit on Oct 10 through Messrs Ahmad Deniel, Ruben & Co, after Rafizi allegedly failed to apologise for two videos said to be defamatory.
The videos, titled “Tangani Isu Farhash Elak Jadi Beban Lebih Besar Pada Kerajaan” (uploaded on July 25) and “Bukan Ismail Sabri, bukan KJ” (uploaded on Aug 20), were posted on Rafizi’s TikTok and YouTube accounts.
Farhash, who previously served as political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is seeking RM10 million in general damages, along with aggravated, exemplary and punitive damages, as well as legal costs.
He claimed the videos had damaged his reputation, causing loss of investor and business confidence, despite denials by both himself and the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department that his company, Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd, held a coal mining licence in the state.
