Prominent businessman and former political aide Farhash Wafa Salvador has issued a categorical denial regarding his alleged involvement in a power struggle for control of NexG Berhad, a key technology provider for the Malaysian government.
Through a letter of demand (LOD) issued by his lawyers, Shankar Govinth, on March 13, Farhash refuted a report by Channel News Asia (CNA) which claimed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had personally intervened to order him to “back off” from the company.
The CNA report, published on March 12, suggested that the Prime Minister had stepped in to end a confrontation between Farhash and veteran businessman Dato’ Haji Ishak Ismail to avoid further political controversy.
However, Farhash’s legal team stated that their client has “no knowledge whatsoever” of such a campaign. Farhash denied instructing any person or entity to undertake a campaign to assume control of NexG. The letter explicitly stated that Farhash has not been contacted by the Prime Minister, nor received any directive or communication regarding NexG. The lawyers have demanded that CNA retract the article and halt its dissemination, warning of further legal proceedings if the demands are not met.
NexG Berhad (formerly Datasonic Group) is a strategic entity holding approximately RM2.4 billion in government contracts for national security infrastructure, including the supply of MyKad and passport chips.
While Farhash holds no direct stake in NexG, he owns 20% of MMAG Holdings, a listed logistics firm. NexG owns a 10% interest in MMAG Holdings.
The controversy intensified following the en masse resignation of six NexG directors on March 11, who were reportedly aligned with the interests of those opposing Ishak Ismail’s entry into the company.CNA
CNA also reported that a long-time associate of the Prime Minister, Ishak’s vehicle, Raya Aviation Holdings, recently emerged as the largest shareholder in NexG. Following the board exits, NexG founder Datuk Abu Hanifah Noordin—who had his executive powers briefly suspended on March 5—was reinstated on March 12.
