KUALA LUMPUR – Former Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has vowed to take legal action against influencer Ariz Ramli, popularly known as Caprice, following allegations that he had a personal interest in a multi-billion-ringgit renewable energy project developed by UEM Lestra.
In a statement to Scoop today, Rafizi dismissed the claims as false and defamatory, accusing Caprice of participating in a coordinated social media attack against him.
“One example is allegations made by an individual named Caprice, who produced content accusing me of awarding the UEM Lestra project to a company in which I allegedly had an interest, implying I took bribes,” he said.
Rafizi reiterated that neither he nor the Ministry of Economy had any involvement in UEM Lestra’s commercial decisions.
He clarified that the project was a private-sector initiative under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), a policy created by the Ministry of Economy to enable private entities to develop renewable energy projects and directly supply green power to industries, bypassing Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).
The project, which entails a RM2.5 billion investment by UEM Lestra in Segamat, was developed in partnership with U.S. infrastructure investment firm I-Squared Capital, and the energy sale had been finalised with Hong Kong-based ESR Group Limited.
“Since when is a minister responsible for developing policy accused of misconduct over decisions made by a private company unrelated to the Ministry of Economy?” Rafizi said.
He further announced that he would present more detailed facts during the YBM podcast this Friday, offering Caprice the opportunity to share the information with his followers and issue an apology.
“If he fails to do so after being given the opportunity, I have instructed my lawyers to initiate legal action against him,” Rafizi added.
Rafizi also questioned the integrity of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), referring to what he perceived as a pattern of investigations used as a tool against those challenging the leadership, including the 2021 Securities Commission probe and the 2026 investigation into himself.
“This situation creates the risk of abuse of power, which is why the appropriate action should be the immediate suspension of Tan Sri Azam Baki, as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should have done last week,” Rafizi said. – February 17, 2026