POLITICS in the digital age is an altogether different beast – unlike the old days when character assassination and bad-mouthing of political rivals were done in whispers, spread on grapevines or via mysterious poison pen letters with limited reach.
Social media has irrevocably altered the game with all manner of nastiness, untruths and just plain slander getting hits with large audiences. If a rumour or allegation is salacious enough, it will go viral – truth be damned.
This seems to be one of the challenges facing renegade PKR politician Datuk Seri Mohd Rafizi Ramli who has recently embarked on two major social enterprise projects, namely a convenience store in Fleximart and value-meal eatery Kesum based on the concept of “asal kenyang, sedap dan murah”
The former Economy Minister has threatened legal action against cybertroopers and online critics who, according to him, seem to delight in tarnishing his image with unsubstantiated allegations.
Labelling these tales as “fitnah” (malicious lies) allegedly spread by cybertroopers aligned to the ruling government, the Pandan MP expressed optimism that if the matter is brought to court, he would surely “laugh to the bank”.
“But this will smear the country’s name because the slander accuses a renowned international company,” cautioned Rafizi. “If it goes to court, Malaysia’s name will be tarnished.”
Before he decides on litigation action, the former PKR deputy president contended that he would first highlight the matter to the country’s top leadership in the hope they will rein in their cyber-lackeys. If it is to no avail, he shall then be forced to take legal action.
Delving further, the 48-year-old former cabinet minister claims he has been the target of a smear campaign since the run-up to PKR’s central leadership polls in May this year when he contested against Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The latest allegations concern Rafizi’s involvement in a billion-ringgit project involving a UK-based firm Arm Holdings Plc in which all manner of impropriety were alleged to have been committed.
Recall that Malaysia had on March this year struck a US$250 mill (RM1.1 bil) deal with Arm Holdings to secure semiconductor design licenses and technology over the next decade to move the country’s chip industry up the value chain.
According to Rafizi who was the then economy minister, the 10-year agreement aims to push Malaysia beyond its traditional role in chip assembly and testing, enabling local companies to design and develop their own semiconductors to compete in the global market.
There were many who supported the former PKR strongman’s actions, arguing that the spreading of malicious lies had to stop.
It was also suggested to the founder of non-profit organisation Invoke Malaysia that he drags those errant cybertroopers to court to which Rafizi clarified that he was not seeking to gain monetarily from this exercise.
Besides, Rafizi further claimed that he knows the identities of the alleged culprits and that they do not have the means to pay for damages awarded by the court.
This being the murky arena of Malaysian politics, nothing is quite clear cut with plenty of dissenters who thought this was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
One commenter observed that such claims by cybertroopers weren’t any different from Rafizi’s own pronouncements that made his party and its leaders look bad.
It was fortunate that PMX had not taken similar action against the former economy minister, snubbed one commenter. Another wondered why the delay in taking action if one was not guilty, insinuating that there is no smoke without fire.
Right or wrong, it does appear that many Malaysians are fed up of scandalous and juicy rumour-mongering being passed off facts. Litigation was one way to stop normalising this practice of spreading malicious lies.
However, it will be argued by opponents that these online critics and cybertroopers have a way of keeping politicians honest.
Do they act as unofficial checks-and-balances or even whistleblowers that can shine uncomfortable spotlights on pertinent issues? Or are they just purveyors of lies and untruths?
The public awaits Rafizi’s next move. – Nov 19, 2025
