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By Mihar Dias October 2025
Another week, another courtroom cameo by a politically connected millionaire trying to silence the press.
Former PKR leader Farhash Wafa Salvador has once again failed to gag MalaysiaNow over its reporting of a mining licence that just happened to land in his company’s lap weeks after he took control of it.Malaysia Now
He asked the Court of Appeal to stop MalaysiaNow from publishing anything further.
Translation: Please stop reminding people about this story while I sue you for RM10 million. The court’s reply? A polite but firm “No.”
A three-judge panel ruled that MalaysiaNow had every right to rely on justification, fair comment, and qualified privilege — meaning they reported responsibly, backed by evidence and public interest.
The judges referenced a 1987 NSTP vs AirAsia precedent, affirming a simple truth: journalists can publish what’s true.
This marks the second time Farhash’s efforts have flopped. The High Court dismissed his earlier attempt in September and even ordered him to pay MalaysiaNow RM5,000 in costs — pocket change in a RM10 million drama, but symbolically priceless.https://www.malaysianow.com/news/2025/10/08/farhash-fails-in-second-attempt-to-silence-malaysianow
The story at the heart of it all is uncomfortably straightforward: minutes and documents show that Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd’s mining exploration licence was approved by Sabah Minerals Management (chaired by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor) just two weeks after Farhash and his partner took over the company.https://www.malaysianow.com/news/2025/10/08/farhash-fails-in-second-attempt-to-silence-malaysianow
If that timing doesn’t raise eyebrows, what will?
Instead of clearing the air publicly, Farhash opted for the legal sledgehammer — the classic Malaysian elite move to intimidate rather than explain.
But this time, the judiciary stood firm for press freedom.
This decision is more than a “minor victory.” It’s a reminder that journalism isn’t a crime — and truth, once unearthed, can’t be buried again.
So to MalaysiaNow, bravo for standing tall. To the courts, thank you for protecting our right to know.
Of course, to those who think they can mine silence with money and connections — think again.
Because in Malaysia today, you can dig for gold, you can dig for licences — but you can’t dig a hole deep enough to bury the truth.
Mihar Dias (mihardias@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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