The Malaysian Insight

MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan has appointed a lawyer to pursue legal action against PKR’s Rafizi Ramli for accusing him of nepotism in awarding a million-ringgit government contract.

Rahman said he had evidence that the PKR vice-president had contacted Pico Integrated Exhibits (M) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Raslan Dahlan immediately after his press conference via a Facebook message, asking whether Raslan was actually Rahman’s brother.

“In light of the evidence against Rafizi and the malicious allegation thrown at me, I have appointed counsel Datuk M. Reza Hassan of Messrs Raja Riza & Associate to exhaust all legal means against Rafizi in order to put his continuous slandering to rest,” Rahman said in statement posted on his Facebook account. 

On Monday, Rafizi alleged that the Economic Planning Unit, which Rahman leads in the Prime Minister’s Department, had awarded a million-ringgit contract to Pico Integrated Exhibits to organise Ekspo Negaraku.

Rafizi also claimed that the event management company was awarded the contract without open tender.

Rahman said Rafizi had, during the press conference, asserted that he had thoroughly researched and investigated the matter before making the allegations. 

“Like countless other statements by Rafizi, this is another blatant lie that does not befit his position as a member of Parliament. 

“He was so self-assured and buoyant when making this allegation. After repeating the allegation nine times, Rafizi must have believed his own lies.

“His body language, demeanour and intonation during the press conference were orchestrated to perfection to convince viewers of his slanderous allegation against me,” he said.

Rahman, who denied the allegations on the same day, said the evidence in his possession showed that Rafizi was unsure of the facts. 

“Nonetheless, for the sake of his political ambitions, he went on to defame me,” he said. 

Despite admitting his error, Rafizi said Rahman was free to sue if he found his statements defamatory. – December 14, 2017.