Chai Jin Shern, also known as James Chai, says the anti-graft agency could have reached him through his friends, ex-colleagues or social media.
Chai Jin Shern, also known as James Chai, said the notice included the address of his childhood home, where his parents live, exposing them to unnecessary danger, something he said he “will never forgive the authorities for”.
“They could have asked my friends or my former colleagues in the government,” he said in a strongly worded statement today.
“They could have also emailed or messaged me on social media. Or searched me on LinkedIn to know what I’m up to now.”
Chai, who is working in the UK, said the public search appears intended to portray him as a fugitive with something to hide.
“This is excessive and potentially defamatory. I presume this is meant to be so,” he said.
Chai was a special functions officer to Rafizi when the Pandan MP was the economy minister. He left the ministry after Rafizi resigned as minister last May.
MACC’s notice did not specify the reason for summoning Chai, but it follows a recent investigation into alleged misconduct related to a RM1.1 billion government deal with Arm Holdings signed in March last year.
In his statement, Chai also criticised an online campaign portraying him as “Jho Low 2.0” after MACC began its investigations.
He called the campaign racially charged and an attempt to deflect attention from the lack of evidence against him.
Chai provided a timeline of events, from helping coordinate Malaysia’s KL20 tech conference in April 2024 to working on the Arm Holdings collaboration from May 2024 to March 2025, before resigning alongside Rafizi.
He asserted that he did not influence the Arm Holdings deal and even voluntarily assisted the company for two months after leaving the ministry to ensure a smooth transition.
“As for how I’m feeling: Little annoyance, some sadness, and a lot of anger. Annoyed that I had to go through this unnecessary process, sad that the large state has been weaponised to go after someone small like me, and angry that they are coming after what I represent.
“I am not a politician, I am not a tycoon, I am not an influencer,” he added.
After the search notice, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said at a press conference that statements from 12 witnesses, including a former minister, had been recorded. He did not confirm whether it was Rafizi.
Rafizi previously accused MACC of conducting a politically motivated investigation against him.
The PKR MP said the allegations against him revolved around two major government policies – the Silicon Vision Programme and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) – both of which he said went through multiple layers of government approval, including Cabinet endorsement.
The Silicon Vision Programme involved a collaboration between the government and Arm Holdings to create the country’s first semiconductor chips.
The NETR outlines the country’s energy transition targets up to 2050 and involves major investments in the green industry. - FMT
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