Now, that the BLOOMBERG media reports that revealed about the 'CORPORATE MAFIA' issue seems credible, it is reasonable that MALAYSIA also investigates into BESTINET and related matters.
NexG Bhd is the company that holds the exclusive contracts to supply the Malaysian government’s passport booklets, national identity cards, MyTentera cards and foreign worker identification cards. collectively valued at RM2.5 billion
Further, NexG on Oct 15 last year announced that a RM140 million contract from the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) for the supply of foreign worker cards (i-Kad) to the Immigration Department for a three-year period from Nov 1, 2022 to Oct 31, 2025, had been extended for 18 months, from November 2025 to end-April 2027.
Bestinet is the operator of the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS), which has 15 modules covering all aspects of the processing of documents of foreign workers from all countries. The revised agreement in September 2024 resulted in more than double the government payments to Bestinet, with the fee per foreign worker permit rising to RM215 from RM100. In Malaysia, there are about 2.5 million migrant workers, and at rate of RM215 per permit(Note migrant worker permits are generally 1 year permit, then another annual permit has to be applied, and obtained). Thus, operator of the FWCMS can make about RM537 million per year, Now, the recent revised agreement by PM Anwar Ibrahim's MADANI government, not just increased the rate per permit, but was for a 7 YEAR term, from June 1, 2024, to Jan 31, 2031 - thus the Malaysian Government may end up having to pay Bestinet up to about RM3.7 Billion??? Do they also get payments from others - how much?
ISSUE - Have the Malaysian Government OUTSOURCED what should really be government duties, and responsibilities? Do these companies BESTINET and NexG have access to PERSONAL DATA of Malaysians and migrant workers in Malaysia, and who is responsible for misuse of PERSONAL DATA - the Malaysian government OR Bestinet or NexG? Who decides who gets a work permit, and whose work permit is CANCELLED?
Bestinet and NexG are private companies - so the ownership or shares can be sold - and is there anything in place to prevent other companies like BlackRock or some US or Israel linked companies getting ALL this power that Bestinet and NexG has now?
A new revelation was that a person from BESTINET was appointed Director in NexG - so, is there some LINK between Bestinet and NexG - Do Bestinet have shares, directly or indirectly in BESTINET - Normally a DIRECTOR is decided by the shareholders - so how did the Bestinet’s chief financial officer (CFO) become a Director in NexG?
Among the seven directors who relinquished their board seats is Kunal Tayal, an Indian national. The non-independent non-executive director of NexG is also Bestinet’s chief financial officer (CFO).
Now, was there an OPEN TENDER before Bestinet or NexG were awarded this VERY IMPORTANT government contracts? This awards and variation/extension of contracts happens during the premiership of Anwar Ibrahim - so are we back to the OLD WAYS where there is NO open tender - and 'friend' companies get government contracts..
CORPORATE MAFIA like allegations - allegations made by Hanifa of NexG raises concerns..
Last week, Hanifah(NexG’s executive chairman Datuk Hanifah Noordin) in a statement claimed that several former directors, independent directors and key management officers were “forced to leave their positions under circumstances that raised serious concerns with the company”.
“I was made aware that representations and threats had allegedly been made to certain individuals that they could face investigations by the authorities, including potential PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) and AMLA (anti-money laundering)-related actions, should they refuse to step down from their positions,” said Hanifah.
According to Hanifah, he was placed under pressure to facilitate the appointment of several new directors to fill the vacancies.
This issue gets worse - because the names of Azam Baki(Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and Anwar Ibrahim's former aide, Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak
He (Victor Chin Boon Long) stepped down as chief operating officer in September 2025. Meanwhile, his wife Chan Swee Ying sold a 7.58% stake in MMAG Holdings Bhd (KL:MMAG) to NexG and a 6.5% stake to Velocity Capital Partner — a company in which Tan Sri Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), acknowledged he owned shares, which he sold.
Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak was also a substantial shareholder of MMAG. He held 19.9% or 462 million shares until Jan 9 this year. He sold the block to Future Star Sdn Bhd, which is controlled by 25-year-old Cheah Min Lly. The shares remain pledged to Velocity Capital Sdn Bhd, a money lending outfit controlled by Velocity Capital Partner, despite changing hands.
And, Victor Chin Boon Long is also involved - He was just arrested...
Police have confirmed that businessman Victor Chin Boon Loong was among 10 individuals detained on suspicion of involvement in money laundering activities under Ops Viking, which was conducted between Oct 15 last year and Jan 13 this year....“This case involves several individuals suspected of committing money laundering offences through various methods, including the acquisition or ownership of publicly listed companies on Bursa Malaysia, as well as private companies,” he(Bukit Aman AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing) Investigation Unit chief Datuk Fazlisyam Abd Majid) said at a press conference here on Monday. -Edge, 30/3/2026
I am at a LOST why PM Anwar Ibrahim decided to renew extend contract with BESTINET - noting that the person in control is Aminul, a Bangladeshi granted with permanent resident status in Malaysia, who the Bangladesh government made a request to extradite Aminul and his associate, Ruhul Amin, for their links to money laundering activities.
There is some serious CONCERNS about matters relating to migrant workers application and processing. Even the Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi faced charges about this...
Zahid faced 33 counts of graft for allegedly receiving S$13.56 million (RM43.39 million) from UKSB to facilitate the award of a contract for a foreign visa system (VLN) and one-stop services (OSC) in China, and the extension of the contract to 2025. These charges were framed under Section 16(A)(B) of the MACC Act.
He was also on trial for seven other bribery charges in his capacity as the home affairs minister then, for allegedly obtaining for himself bribes denominated in different currencies comprising S$1.15 million, RM3 million, €15,000 (RM67,032) and US$15,000 (RM67,548) from UKSB. These charges were framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code. - Edge, 5/1o/2022
Many were unhappy with this acquittal, and was waiting for the prosecution's appeal to the Court of Appeal - but then Attorney General/Public Prosecutor suddenly withdrew that appeal on 12/12/2024.
On 12 December, the Attorney General’s Chambers withdrew the appeal against the Shah Alam High Court’s decision to acquit and discharge Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi from 40 charges of corruption in connection with the foreign visa system (VLN) on the grounds that no prima facie case had been established against Zahid at the end of the prosecution’s case. - ALIRAN, 17/12/2024
What powers do these companies have? Can they grant work permits, and even cancel work permits? Can they produce MyKads for the many 'phantom voters; in our General elections?
Anwar Ibrahim should not behave like Trump - doing as he pleases. Despite criticisms, he extended the tenure of Azam Baki - and here he revised and extended the contract of Bestinet - WHY?
Local firm Bestinet Sdn Bhd and its founder Datuk Seri Aminul Islam today denied any claims or implications linking them to human trafficking or money laundering allegations relating to foreign worker recruitment, also denying being part of any illegal practices or misconduct...Bloomberg yesterday reported that Bangladesh is asking Malaysia to arrest and extradite two businessmen including Aminul over their alleged roles in a migrant worker recruitment system, and that Bangladesh had also asked Malaysia to temporarily stop using Bestinet’s software for the processing and monitoring of migrant workers recruited from countries such as Bangladesh. - Yahoo News, 6/11/2024
ALL IN ALL, this is an ISSUE that needs to thoroughly investigated and reviewed:-
These projects that surely are 'national security matters' which should be directly handled by the Government and its Ministries have been OUTSOURCED to private companies, including one controlled by a Bangladeshi national - where there is a RISK that shareholdings and control can so easily be lost to some other. It is NOT a wholly owned government company, or even a GLC?
The AUDITOR GENERAL at present also do not have right to AUDIT these companies, to see if there is HANKY PANKY - or even 'abuse of power' or corruptions... These companies may also have access to PERSONAL DATA - and this a risk.
ALL KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS - at the very least the Malaysian Government should INVESTIGATE and take action - that is all what we want. It is NOT for PM ANWAR to decide on how he feel - but let us have a open transparent investigation into this MIGRANT issue - and now the company that will be producing our MY Kad
ROYAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY may be ONE way, but make sure that it is made up of INDEPENDENT Commissioners - with a broad framework...OR
Maybe a PARLIAMENTARY Committee investigation
BUT not a Cabinet Committee as was done with Azam's Shareholding issue - where Malaysian are still waiting for that Cabinet Committee's report...
AZAM's Shareholding - It is Malaysia, and when you buy or acquire SHARES - it is evident in the government records - Azam shareholding records. SO, if at any time, in his shareholding records, he had MORE than RM100,000 shares - he committed a MISCONDUCT > so simple, so why a Cabinet Committee at?
When ANWAR delays investigation or refuses to ACT - Anwar's CREDIBILITY worsens - Is he trying to protect his FRIENDS?
When the first PH government came in with PM Mahathir - many were HAPPY when Ministers/politicians and their 'friends' were finally being investigated and prosecuted .... Then, the 2nd PH-led government under Anwar Ibrahim does a U-TURN - we had discontinuance of criminal trials, DNAAs, withdrawal of appeal, no action against SOME... so, back to BN times, where a 'certain class' are PROTECTED - and we hear of SELECTIVE non-investigations, selective non-prosecutions, 'gifts' of ACQUITTAL?
WORSE, now may have no faith in just reporting to relevant law enforcement authorities - a loss of faith? So, these days, many openly HIGHLIGHT possible wrongdoings - even furnishing evidence, documents/VDOs/etc... and still SOME seem to be PROTECTED? This is SAD...
In fact, those who take RISK and HIGHLIGHT these wrongs or suspected crimes find themselves being SUED in Court by the alleged perpetrators - some even wanting to place a 'GAG' to prevent further highlighting or public discussion...
When allegations about Azam Baki's shareholding
# MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki has filed a defamation suit against journalist Lalitha Kunaratnam, demanding RM10 million in damages and a public apology for two articles she wrote about him last year
#Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has filed a lawsuit against Bloomberg LP over an article published on Feb 10 concerning alleged share ownership, which he claims is defamatory...Azam is seeking RM100 million in general damages, as well as aggravated and exemplary damages, in addition to interest and costs.
When allegations of wrongdoings against MCMC by Murray Hunter
# Criminal Defamation Reports against Murray Hunter in Malaysia and Thailand. In Malaysia, co criminal action commenced, but Thailand did - and Murray arrested released on Bail with passport seized, prevented from leaving Thailand
# MCMC sued Murray in Malaysian Court for defamation - and obtained most possibly a default judgment, on a day, Murray could not even leave Thailand to appear in the Malaysian Court, if Murray even knew of the suit or the hearing date in court.
When allegations made about PM Anwar in a Bloomberg report..
# Bloomberg investigated for criminal defamation - and the prosecution decided on No Further Action(NFA)
When allegations made against BESTINET
# Bestinet Sdn Bhd and its founder, Aminul Islam Abdul Nor, are suing 10 media outlets and individuals, including Malaysiakini, with over RM1 billion being sought as damages.This is over Bloomberg’s report titled “Everyone gets a cut, and migrant workers pay the price”, published on Jan 23, and subsequent reports repeating its claims and commenting on the issue.In their statement of claim, Bestinet and Aminul (above) claimed that the impugned statements, among others, portrayed them as being involved in human trafficking, money laundering, corrupt practices, deliberately denying the government access to the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS), and had enriched themselves at the expense of vulnerable migrants.Other defendants are The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd (publisher of The Edge), MNow Media Sdn Bhd (publisher of MalaysiaNow), Norhafizan Muhamad and Nur Azwan Nusi (as owners of a partnership that operates Harapan Daily), former MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya, former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, and content creator Iswardy Morni, who runs the YouTube channel “YB Youtube Channel”.
The High Court has dismissed Bestinet Sdn Bhd and Datuk Seri Aminul Islam Abdul Nor's bid to gag media organisations and individuals from making statements over the recent migrant worker exposé.
"Interim injunction should only be granted in the clearest cases where the alleged libel is plainly untrue and no viable defence of justification, privilege or fair comment can succeed.
"The right of free speech is one which it is for the public interest that individuals should possess, and, indeed, that they should exercise without impediment, so long as no wrongful act is done," he said in his ground of judgment dated Jan 20.
NOTE that in the wake of allegations and/or suspicions, alleged Perpetrators commence SLAPP actions against one who HIGHLIGHTED - But what is NOT THERE is immediate INDEPENDENT investigations and law enforcement > here lies the problem in PM Anwar Ibrahim led government of Malaysia..
NOTE the mere denial by perpetrators, or even the SWEARING on Holy BOOKS is not what we want. We want INDEPENDENT investigations - followed by TRANSPARENT reporting - proper investigation and law enforcement...
PAST governments, at the very least promise that action, investigations, ...will be carried out.
BUT, PM Anwar is different - QUESTIONS even in Parliament do not get a clear ANSWER...and that is a problem.
One comment that I heard said that Anwar has 'TRUMP-like' characteristics - he is in his own world - he accepts only HIS position and VIEW - not the opinions, and views of others - this is not a CHARACTERISTIC of a Prime Minister of a Democratic Nation like Malaysia...who should always consider different views/opinions - and even accept them if it is better?
This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on March 16, 2026 - March 22, 2026
THE proxy fight to gain control of NexG Bhd (KL:NEXG) has revealed issues, such as conflict of interest and governance, in the company that holds the exclusive contracts to supply the Malaysian government’s passport booklets, national identity cards, MyTentera cards and foreign worker identification cards.
The feud, which ended within two weeks, pitted NexG’s executive chairman Datuk Hanifah Noordin, who was trying to regain control of the company he founded, and businessman Datuk Ishak Ismail against Datuk Chong Loong Men, a former deputy public prosecutor and Securities Commission officer, and parties linked to him.
Malaysia's business community faces a generational shift, with a growing proportion of the population aging. As family-owned SMEs contribute significantly to the economy, founders must plan for wealth transfer beyond the business itself, emphasizing early wealth structuring and holistic financial strategies that consider personal and business wealth, community impact, and Islamic principles.
Hanifah and Siti Nur Aishah Ishak (Ishak’s daughter), together with Velocity Capital Partner Bhd (KL:VELOCITY), sought an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to remove seven directors and appoint eight new ones, including Ishak and his son, Mohamad Najib Ishak, who is the group managing director of Raya Airways.
The seven board members resigned en masse shortly after that, ending the boardroom tussle.
Among the seven directors who relinquished their board seats is Kunal Tayal, an Indian national. The non-independent non-executive director of NexG is also Bestinet’s chief financial officer (CFO).
In short, Kunal holds posts in two companies — one that supplies foreign worker identification cards while the other processes the documentation for foreign worker procurements. Notably, Bestinet is not a subsidiary or associate company of NexG, and vice versa.
“This raises a number of red flags over Kunal’s appointment, as [there] seems to be a conflict [of interest],” a source familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity says.
The shareholder feud, however, cut short Kunal’s stint at NexG to roughly four months, from Nov 18, 2025, to March 11, 2026.
To recap, NexG on Oct 15 last year announced that a RM140 million contract from the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) for the supply of foreign worker cards (i-Kad) to the Immigration Department for a three-year period from Nov 1, 2022 to Oct 31, 2025, had been extended for 18 months, from November 2025 to end-April 2027, with no contract value attached.
The i-Kad contract is small, compared with the two contracts to supply passport booklets and identity cards, which are collectively valued at RM2.5 billion. Nonetheless, it is still an important contract given the large number of migrant workers in the country.
Bestinet is the operator of the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS), which has 15 modules covering all aspects of the processing of documents of foreign workers from all countries. However, the system has been deployed mainly for the documentation of Bangladeshi workers.
Bestinet is controlled by Aminul, a Bangladeshi granted with permanent resident status in Malaysia. He is said to have significant ties in his home country and is also well connected in Malaysia.
FWCMS, developed by Bestinet, came under scrutiny in 2024 after the Public Accounts Committee found that the system had been operating the foreign worker recruitment platform for six years without a finalised contract, despite a letter of acceptance being issued in 2018.
The current government finalised the contract on Sept 3, 2024, and it took effect retroactively from June 1, 2024, to Jan 31, 2031. The revised agreement resulted in more than double the government payments to Bestinet, with the fee per foreign worker permit rising to RM215 from RM100.
Two months later, in November 2024, the Bangladesh government made a request to extradite Aminul and his associate, Ruhul Amin, for their links to money laundering activities.
Nearly a year after the request, in October 2025, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was quoted by the media as saying that the matter was being managed on a government-to-government (G2G) basis as well as a police-to-police (P2P) basis, predicated on bilateral cooperation.
Last month, on Feb 10, Saifuddin said in a written parliamentary reply that the government had paid Bestinet over RM381 million for the issue of temporary foreign worker permits through the FWCMS since it became fully operational in February last year. According to him, a total of 2.35 million passes had been issued as at Dec 31, 2025.
Web of related companies
Besides NexG, Kunal has 15.26% or 373.18 million shares in Green Packet Bhd (KL:GPACKET), a digital solutions provider in which he is a non-independent non-executive director.
Kunal bought his stake in Green Packet, which he holds via Authentic Design Resources Sdn Bhd, from Silver Peak Sdn Bhd — a vehicle of Datuk Seri Andy Lim Kok Han, who also owns shares in GIIB Bhd (KL:GIIB).
A Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) check on Authentic Design indicates that while Kunal wholly-owns the company, his boss Aminul is a director along with him. Both Authentic Design and Bestinet have the same registered address at Dataran Glomac in Kelana Jaya.
In addition, Kunal is a non-independent non-executive director of G3 Global Bhd (KL:G3), which is also involved in the provision of information technology solutions but mainly caters to the healthcare sector. Aminul holds a 22.27% stake, or 924.55 million shares, directly and via his son Muhammad Qhailiz Norman Aminul Islam, in the company.
Aminul surfaced as a substantial shareholder of G3 in November 2021 while Muhammad Qhailiz Norman had become a substantial shareholder at end-August 2019. In between, market player Victor Chin Boon Long ceased to be a substantial shareholder in G3 in May 2020.
Aminul is an executive director of G3 and is a director of Green Packet’s subsidiary company, according to its annual report for FY2025.
Notably, Chin, the former shareholder of G3, had a presence in NexG too.
He stepped down as chief operating officer in September 2025. Meanwhile, his wife Chan Swee Ying sold a 7.58% stake in MMAG Holdings Bhd (KL:MMAG) to NexG and a 6.5% stake to Velocity Capital Partner — a company in which Tan Sri Azam Baki, chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), acknowledged he owned shares, which he sold.
Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak was also a substantial shareholder of MMAG. He held 19.9% or 462 million shares until Jan 9 this year. He sold the block to Future Star Sdn Bhd, which is controlled by 25-year-old Cheah Min Lly. The shares remain pledged to Velocity Capital Sdn Bhd, a money lending outfit controlled by Velocity Capital Partner, despite changing hands.
NexG directors come and go swiftly
Neither Aminul nor Kunal is a shareholder of NexG. Kunal joined the board together with Chong and Aswath Ramakrishnan in mid-November last year. Prior to that, four individuals — Syed Farid Syed Ahmad Al-Attas, Mohamed Fairuz Mohamed Fauzy, Badrul Hisham Abdul Aziz and Mohd Zafil Ibrahim — were appointed to NexG’s board.
The appointments of the seven directors came after the exodus of four board members — executive deputy chairman Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, executive director Datuk Puvanesan Subenthiran, and independent directors Datuk Seri Mohd Sopiyan Mohd Rashdi and Datuk Zainal Abidin Abu Hassan, all of whom stepped down, citing personal reasons.
The movements happened after NexG secured the major public contracts.
Last week, Hanifah in a statement claimed that several former directors, independent directors and key management officers were “forced to leave their positions under circumstances that raised serious concerns with the company”.
“I was made aware that representations and threats had allegedly been made to certain individuals that they could face investigations by the authorities, including potential PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) and AMLA (anti-money laundering)-related actions, should they refuse to step down from their positions,” said Hanifah.
According to Hanifah, he was placed under pressure to facilitate the appointment of several new directors to fill the vacancies. He pointed out that it was not clear “whose interests these individuals ultimately represented, as there were no disclosures indicating any shareholding interest or identifiable alignment with existing shareholders”.
This explains the reason for Hanifah and parties acting in concert with him to requisition an EGM to remove the board then. Meanwhile, the then board members suspended his executive powers, citing the reason as ensuring “an ongoing review relating to the company’s investments in quoted shares can proceed in a transparent, independent and orderly manner”.
The departure of Chong, Kunal and the others indicate that the faction of shareholders linked to Ishak, who has 20.4% equity interest or 711.7 million shares, and Hanifah, who has a 9.58% stake, has prevailed.
On March 11, Hanifah’s executive powers and functions, which were suspended on March 5, were reinstated.
Hanifah alleged that there was a plan to subcontract NexG’s technologies to a competing public-listed firm — HeiTech Padu Bhd (KL:HTPADU). Farhash is a former shareholder of HeiTech Padu and sold his stake in April 2024.
The boardroom tussle at NexG has concluded as far as the substantial shareholders are concerned.
However, whatever that has unfolded before the public seems to suggest there is more than meets the eye. Will this warrant the attention of Putrajaya?
Corporate governance is vital, more so for companies that deal with authorised identification. There are no two ways about it. - Edge, 24/3/2026
New Bloomberg report claims PM blocking release of Azam shares probe
The report comes amid speculation that a government probe found the MACC chief has shareholdings worth more than RM14 million.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is blocking the release of a report detailing the outcome of an investigation into the shareholdings of Azam Baki, Bloomberg reports, amid intense speculation that the recent government probe may have uncovered ownership of at least RM14 million worth of shares held by the embattled chief of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The report also stated that Azam, whose tenure at MACC is unlikely to be extended amid pressure for his immediate dismissal, is now seeking appointment as a senator, a position that would require Anwar to recommend him to the Agong.
Bloomberg said Azam and the Prime Minister’s Office had not responded to the claims.
MalaysiaNow has also reached out to the MACC chief.
In its report today, Bloomberg quoted sources as saying that Anwar requested that a report by the government committee which investigated Azam's shareholdings, and presented to the Cabinet this month, not be made public pending a separate probe into allegations of MACC's ties with a group known as the "corporate mafia".
"Anwar’s concern is that making the shareholding report public would undermine perceptions of his government ahead of a possible general election that could come as early as this year," the report quoted the sources as saying.
It comes as questions swirl over speculation that a three-member investigation committee led by Attorney-General Mohd Dusuki Mokthar found Azam holds shares worth more than RM14 million in nine companies, far exceeding the amount reported by Bloomberg earlier.
In February, Bloomberg published two explosive revelations concerning Azam’s unusual wealth and claims that he has ties with rogue individuals.
It reported that Azam held millions of shares worth approximately RM800,000 in a listed company, in violation of a government circular prohibiting public servants from such holdings.
Azam has since admitted to purchasing the shares last year, while still the MACC chief, but said he did not break any laws.
This was followed by another Bloomberg report on 12 Feb, linking Azam to a group of people known as the "corporate mafia", which it said worked in cahoots with the MACC to prey on businessmen and forcefully seize ownership of public-listed companies.
The revelation renewed calls for Azam to be removed as the MACC chief commissioner, and for the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry into the allegations.
Anwar, who has extended Azam's tenure three times, has scoffed at calls to remove Azam.
"The man does his work, why do you want to fire him? Read his explanation. It's a disease. Why do you condemn people who do work? Wrong," Anwar famously replied to reporters.
Anwar later announced a three-member committee to investigate the claims on Azam's shares, led by the attorney-general, which also includes Public Service Department director-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz and Treasury secretary Johan Mahmood Merican.
On March 11, the government confirmed it had received the report from the committee but stopped short of announcing its findings. Instead, the government said the Cabinet had instructed Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar to take follow-up disciplinary action.
On March 13, Pandan MP and former minister Rafizi Ramli cited government sources who told him that the committee had discovered more than RM14 million worth of shares held by Azam, and urged Putrajaya to come clean on the matter.
"If it is true that the total shares in the nine companies amounted to RM14 million, the government's failure to investigate the source of Azam Baki's wealth will be seen as proof that it is colluding to shield him," he said.
Today's Bloomberg report also comes on the back of a stunning claim by investor Victor Chin, who has been the subject of a police investigation into allegations that a group of "corporate mafia" was working in cohort with MACC officers to forcibly take ownership of listed companies.
Chin has since fought back against the accusations, and released a series of documents and statements to prove his innocence.
Saying he himself was a victim of the "corporate mafia", he threatened to name a certain PKR MP whom he said took RM9.5 million from him with the promise of appeasing the "corporate mafia" to prevent companies linked to him from being seized.
Chin has also threatened to disclose the identity of the politician if his money is not returned by March 31.
There were suggestions that the individual is a minister in Anwar's Cabinet and an MP for a Klang Valley constituency.
A day after Chin made the claim, Human Resources Minister R. Ramanan held a surprise press conference, challenging Chin to name him so that legal action could be taken.
Following this, Rafizi, in his "Yang Berhenti Menteri" podcast, predicted that the unnamed MP would eventually return the money to Chin and, as such, his identity would never be made public. In a follow-up episode, Rafizi announced that he had been informed the money had been returned. - Malaysia Now, 30/3/2026
High Court rejects Bestinet, Aminul's bid for gag order on migrant worker exposé
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has dismissed Bestinet Sdn Bhd and Datuk Seri Aminul Islam Abdul Nor's bid to gag media organisations and individuals from making statements over the recent migrant worker exposé.
Judge Roslan Mat Nor dismissed an ex parte application on the grounds that the case did not meet the strict threshold for an interim injunction in defamation proceedings.
Bestinet and Aminul had sued 10 defendants, including Bloomberg LP, Bloomberg (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd, Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd, Harapan Media Enterprise, as well as lawyer-activist Latheefa Koya, former minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, and activist Iswardy Morni.
The suit arose from a Bloomberg article published on Jan 23 titled "Everyone Gets a Cut, And Migrant Workers Pay the Price", which allegedly linked Bestinet and Aminul to corruption, the imposition of syndicate fees on Bangladeshi migrant workers, and exploitation within the recruitment system.
The report also mentioned Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The plaintiffs claimed the statements were defamatory, untrue, and had severely damaged their reputation.
They sought general, aggravated and exemplary damages, including RM500,000 in special damages against the first defendant, as well as an apology.
In his written grounds, Roslan said courts must exercise exceptional caution in granting interim injunctions in defamation cases due to the importance of freedom of speech.
"Interim injunction should only be granted in the clearest cases where the alleged libel is plainly untrue and no viable defence of justification, privilege or fair comment can succeed.
"The right of free speech is one which it is for the public interest that individuals should possess, and, indeed, that they should exercise without impediment, so long as no wrongful act is done," he said in his ground of judgment dated Jan 20.
Roslan said the alleged defamatory statements concerned matters of public interest, namely the recruitment of foreign workers into Malaysia.
"If an interim injunction is granted, it would restrain the defendants from expressing views on issues of public interest.
"This would directly affect their freedom of speech," he said, adding that the plaintiffs had not provided clear evidence of specific or irreparable harm that would justify urgent intervention.
The court said statements by the defendants were largely reports or commentary arising from the original Bloomberg article, making it difficult at this stage to conclude that they had no possible defence of justification or fair comment.
However, the court reminded that freedom of speech and press must be exercised in accordance with the law.
"Reports or news must be based on verified and authentic facts.
"If reports are made based on unverified or doubtful information, it will erode public trust and create suspicion within society," he added. - NST, 23/2/2026
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