FORMER Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, questioning the credibility of allegations that PN received funds from gambling activities.
“We are ashamed. Anwar Ibrahim said in a speech that there is evidence that PN got money from gambling. I don’t know who told him. Maybe it was Tengku Zafrul. Because he was the finance minister who was in charge at that time. I don’t know,” Rafizi said in the latest podcast Yang Berhenti Menteri.
He added that neither he nor others in the administration were consulted before Anwar made the accusation three years ago.
“But he never asked us. We don’t know either. We thought there was evidence. After a week, it became a month. After a month, it became a year. Do you remember? It was silent like that,” he pointed out.
Rafizi said accusing people of taking money from gambling is a big thing, that there are many accusations made but no evidence. “So if it’s about the National Union, it will be like that too,” he added.
His remarks came following growing tensions within PKR as accusations without substantiated proof continue to stir controversy. In December 2022, Anwar Ibrahim appeared to imply that PN’s election funds partly came from gaming companies involved in special draws.
He said the Finance Ministry also found violations in the awarding of RM600 bil without tender on unspecified matters. Further in May 2023, Anwar defended his claim that PN had used proceeds from gambling companies to finance its election campaign in 2022.
Anwar insisted that he does not speak without evidence. This comes after PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin demanded an apology from Anwar, saying he is mulling legal action against the latter.
However, Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman said those allegations could not be verified.
In a written parliamentary reply to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) in May 2025, Azalina said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had conducted a detailed investigation.
“However, MACC found the information to be very general, and no parties were able to confirm it. Therefore, no investigation papers were opened,” she said. —Feb 22, 2025
Main image: Bloomberg
