KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has been accused of raising the corporate mafia issue to divert public attention from the khalwat controversy involving his political ally, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, ahead of the Melaka state election.
Impak Madani adviser John Ooh Sin Hwa said the move was a familiar political tactic associated with Rafizi, allegedly aimed at preventing Bersama from suffering a heavy defeat in the polls.
“It looks like there is a political tactic behind Rafizi’s actions because just days after the controversy surrounding the khalwat case linked to Nik Nazmi, Rafizi came forward to raise the corporate mafia issue.
“I believe he raised the corporate mafia issue to divert attention in the hope that Melaka voters would not focus on the khalwat case,” he said in a statement on Friday.
Previously, Parti Bersama announced that Nik Nazmi would be placed on a three-month leave from all official party activities, effective from Oct 20 until Jan 19, 2027.
Bersama president Syukri Razab said the party believed the decision was necessary and reasonable.
Nik Nazmi had previously confirmed that he was one of two individuals detained by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) in a khalwat raid in Petaling Jaya.
Commenting further, Ooh said Rafizi’s tactic would not succeed because extensive information about the case was already circulating on social media.
“Whatever they do, voters have seen the moral issues within Bersama, and voters would generally not give victory to leaders embroiled in moral problems,” he said. - Awani