Latest news with #FarhashWafaSalvadorRizalMubarak
Malaysiakini
5 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Man of the hour 'Datuk Seri Farhash' dodges media in Penang
As protesters gathered in Kuala Lumpur demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, some 350km to the north, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak was awarded the Darjah Panglima Pangkuan Negeri, which carries the title 'Datuk Seri'. The award ceremony took place at Dewan Sri Pinang, George Town, in conjunction with the 84th birthday celebration of Penang Governor Ramli Ngah Talib.
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Portal is sued over allegation
Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 Text Size: SMM accused MalaysiaNow of publishing 'numerous allegations which are false, misleading, and defamatory' regarding the purported awarding of a Prospecting Licence (PL) to Bumi Suria, a company linked to prominent businessman and former political aide Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has initiated legal proceedings against news portal MalaysiaNow over allegedly false and defamatory reports concerning the politically-linked company Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd. In a statement, SMM accused MalaysiaNow of publishing 'numerous allegations which are false, misleading, and defamatory' regarding the purported awarding of a Prospecting Licence (PL) to Bumi Suria, a company linked to prominent businessman and former political aide Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. 'At no point in time did MalaysiaNow seek SMM's clarification prior to the publication. 'The publications were biased, one-sided, and represent a calculated attempt by MalaysiaNow to defame SMM, its directors, and officers,' SMM stated, adding that it would pursue legal action against any other media outlet that republishes the claims. The lawsuit comes after a series of articles and videos by MalaysiaNow suggesting that SMM had improperly awarded a prospecting licence to Bumi Suria for a 70,000-hectare forest reserve area in Kalabakan and Gunung Rara. SMM rebutted this, reiterating that it has no legal power to issue prospecting or mining licences. It stressed that this authority lies solely with the Sabah Department of Lands and Surveys (JTU) under the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960. JTU Director Datuk Bernard Liew later confirmed that no mineral-related licence had ever been issued to Bumi Suria. Instead, SMM clarified that it had only issued a 'Conditional Letter of Permission to Apply for a Prospecting Licence' to Bumi Suria following internal board deliberations, stressing that this document did not amount to an approval or issuance of any licence. 'SMM's role is strictly limited to issuing conditional letters of permission to apply for a licence,' it said, adding that such a letter would only be issued after the agency's board of directors had convened to review the application. 'This letter does not confer or award any licence. Interested applicants must submit complete documentation and undergo due diligence by SMM before other related government agencies conduct further checks,' it said. The agency said it had, in the exercise of its functions, considered Bumi Suria's application and issued conditional approval for its application. 'Bumi Suria did not proceed to formally submit any of the required documents for an application,' it added. Consequently, on March 24, 2025, SMM issued an official letter revoking the permission to apply. 'These facts were maliciously omitted by MalaysiaNow,' the agency said. SMM also took issue with the use of a photo of its chief executive officer, Natasha Sim, and her name in connection with an audio recording that they claim does not feature her voice and is not associated with her. 'This deliberate act of misrepresentation is unacceptable and unethical,' it said. The issue has drawn public scrutiny, particularly as SMM has been embroiled in controversy since a series of leaked videos and audio recordings emerged, alleging corrupt practices in the awarding of licences and implicating several Sabah politicians. Two state assemblymen, Datuk Yusof Yaacob (Sindumin) and Datuk Andy Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu), are currently facing corruption charges over the scandal. Farhash, a former aide to PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has denied allegations that he owned Bumi Suria and that the company had been awarded a mineral prospecting or exploration licence. While confirming he is a director and shareholder, his lawyers have demanded the articles be removed. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
SMM sues MalaysiaNow for defamation, denies issuing mining licence to politically-linked firm
KOTA KINABALU, July 25 — Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has initiated legal proceedings against news portal MalaysiaNow over allegedly false and defamatory reports concerning the politically-linked company Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd. In a statement, SMM accused MalaysiaNow of publishing 'numerous allegations which are false, misleading, and defamatory' regarding the purported awarding of a prospecting licence (PL) to Bumi Suria, a company linked to prominent businessman and former political aide Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. 'At no point in time did MalaysiaNow seek SMM's clarification prior to the publication. The publications were biased, one-sided, and represent a calculated attempt by MalaysiaNow to defame SMM, its directors, and officers,' SMM stated, adding that it would pursue legal action against any other media outlet that republishes the claims. The lawsuit comes after a series of articles and videos by MalaysiaNow suggesting that SMM had improperly awarded a prospecting licence to Bumi Suria for a 70,000-hectare forest reserve area in Kalabakan and Gunung Rara. SMM rebutted this, reiterating that it has no legal power to issue prospecting or mining licences. It stressed that this authority lies solely with the Sabah Department of Lands and Surveys (JTU) under the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960. JTU director Datuk Bernard Liew noted this yesterday when saying that no mineral-related licence had ever been issued to Bumi Suria. Instead, SMM clarified that it had only issued a 'Conditional Letter of Permission to Apply for a Prospecting Licence' to Bumi Suria following internal board deliberations, stressing that this document was not an approval or the issuance of any licence. 'However, Bumi Suria did not proceed to formally submit any of the required documents for an application. Consequently, on March 24, 2025, SMM issued an official letter of cancellation of permission to apply to Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd. 'These facts were maliciously omitted by MalaysiaNow,' SMM said. SMM also took issue with the use of a photo of its chief executive officer, Natasha Sim, and her name in connection with an audio recording that they claim does not feature her voice and is not associated with her. 'This deliberate act of misrepresentation is unacceptable and unethical,' it said. The issue has drawn public scrutiny, particularly as SMM has been embroiled in controversy since a series of leaked videos and audio recordings emerged, alleging corrupt practices in the awarding of licences and implicating several Sabahan politicians. Two state assemblymen, Datuk Yusof Yaacob (Sindumin) and Datuk Andy Suryady Bandy (Tanjung Batu), are currently facing corruption charges over the scandal. Farhash, a former aide to PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has denied allegations that he owned Bumi Suria and that the company had been awarded a mineral prospecting or exploration licence. While confirming he is a director and shareholder, his lawyers have demanded the articles be removed.
Free Malaysia Today
21-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Farhash denies news report, demands apology
Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak wants MalaysiaNow to publish a retraction and apology on its website and all its social media platforms within 48 hours. PETALING JAYA : Businessman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak has denied a news report that a company linked to him was awarded an exploration licence by a Sabah government agency, and is demanding a public apology. In a cease and desist letter issued by his lawyers to MalaysiaNow, Farhash said allegations that he owned Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd, and that the company had been awarded a licence, were 'false and defamatory'. The lawyers said Farhash was merely a director and shareholder of Bumi Suria. 'The article falsely attributes to him a personal interest and benefit in a licence that does not exist, and misleadingly implies political impropriety or preferential treatment, which is both damaging and baseless,' the letter read. It said neither Farhash nor Bumi Suria has ever been awarded any mineral prospecting or exploration licence in Sabah. The lawyers said that publication 'of these falsehoods, along with their insinuations' has caused Farhash significant reputational harm. They also claimed that MalaysiaNow did not verify the facts with the relevant government authorities and had therefore violated basic journalistic standards. They demanded that the portal immediately cease and desist from publishing or disseminating the said article or any of its content. They also demanded that the article be removed from the website and all social media channels. 'We are instructed to demand that you issue a full and unequivocal public retraction and apology, to be prominently published both on your website and all MalaysiaNow social media platforms within 48 hours. 'Take notice that should you fail to comply with the above demands within the stipulated time, our client reserves all rights to initiate legal proceedings against your organisation and any responsible individuals.' Earlier today, MalaysiaNow reported that Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) awarded Bumi Suria an exploration licence for coal mining. The report said it had been granted exclusive rights to explore and search for minerals on 70,000ha in the Kalabakan and Gunung Rara forest reserves near the Kalimantan border. In a statement to FMT, SMM CEO Natasha Sim said the state government agency was not a licence-awarding body, nor did it have jurisdiction to award or issue licences. Sim also said Bumi Suria had never been issued or awarded any prospecting licence by the state government.
Free Malaysia Today
21-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
SMM denies report on mining licence for Bumi Suria
Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd said it does not have the jurisdiction to award or issue licences. (Sabah Mineral Management pic) PETALING JAYA : Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has denied a news report claiming that it awarded an exploration licence to a company owned by businessman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak. In a statement to FMT, SMM CEO Natasha Sim said the state government agency was not a licence-awarding body. 'Nor do we have jurisdiction to award or issue licences,' she said. Earlier today, MalaysiaNow reported that SMM had awarded Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd an exploration licence for coal mining. According to the portal, Bumi Suria is jointly owned by Farhash and Aminuddin Mustapha. The report said it had been granted exclusive rights to explore and search for minerals on 70,000 hectares in the Kalabakan and Gunung Rara forest reserves near the Kalimantan border. However, Sim said that Bumi Suria had never been issued or awarded any prospecting licence by the state government.
