Several DAP and PKR lawmakers have spoken up in defence of former economy minister Rafizi Ramli’s ex-aide James Chai amid scrutiny from the MACC.
The statements came following the commission’s hunt for Chai as a “wanted person” over Rafizi and his involvement in the government’s RM1.1 billion deal with British semiconductor giant Arm Holdings PLC.
In a statement today, Puchong MP Yeo Bee Yin expressed deep regret and questioned whether the government had “morphed into what it once despised”.
“As a policymaker, I spoke in Parliament to express my disagreement and my hope that the government would reconsider the Arm deal - primarily concerning matters of policy and strategy.
“However, the suggestion that Rafizi and his team derived personal gain from this deal is far-fetched. To equate the Arm deal with 1MDB is like a ‘cerita dongeng’ - a fairy tale that no rational person could believe,” she said.
Yeo further criticised the use of government machinery to publicly humiliate individuals, stressing that no citizen should be treated unfairly regardless of their political alignment.
“I still want to believe that we can do better than this, that we can cultivate a new politics for Malaysia, and that our nation can still shine as a beacon of light in a distracted world,” she added.
Public confidence at stake
Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok urged MACC to review how Chai is being investigated to maintain public confidence in the graft-busting agency.
Kok warned that when individuals who have denied wrongdoing appear to face intense scrutiny before the full facts are established, it risks creating the perception that the process may be uneven or excessive.
She noted that Chai had explained his role as a policy aide participating in discussions on Malaysia’s semiconductor ambitions, raising questions about whether a relatively junior individual was facing public pressure disproportionate to his position.
“The Madani government has consistently emphasised integrity, institutional reform, and the rule of law.
“For these principles to remain credible, it is essential that enforcement processes are seen by the public as fair, measured, and consistent,” Kok said.
DAP Youth chief Woo Kah Leong also raised similar concerns, warning MACC against political witch-hunting, as such investigation methods risk creating a climate of fear among the people.
“When investigations are conducted in a manner that risks eroding public confidence, the unity government will inevitably bear the political consequences and face legitimate questions from the rakyat,” he said.
‘Scrutiny escalated after Azam criticism’
Separately, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung pointed out that scrutiny of Rafizi and Chai intensified after the Pandan MP called for MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki to be suspended.
According to Lee, several organisations then lodged police reports regarding the deal, after which investigations began expanding to include ministers and senior civil servants.
Lee warned that the episode could discourage idealistic young Malaysians from entering public service, especially at a time when the country is already grappling with a persistent brain drain among talented students and graduates who choose to remain overseas.
“Chai said his only ‘crime’ is that, in his 30s, when many have already abandoned and questioned so-called ideals, he still holds onto idealism.
“I hope his ideals continue to shine and awaken the hope and passion for politics in this generation.
“The government must have enforcement agencies that are more independent, professional, and less politicised,” he said.
Earlier this week, MACC issued a notice that it was seeking Chai to facilitate investigations against Rafizi.
In a press conference later, Azam said the former aide is being sought as a wanted person, not a witness, the New Straits Times reported.
Responding to the matter, Chai then issued a press statement criticising the MACC and claimed the agency did not contact him before issuing the notice seeking his cooperation.
This was then disputed by the commission, which claimed its officer tried to contact Chai since Feb 24, but the latter allegedly blocked investigating officers who contacted him on WhatsApp. - Mkini
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