KUALA LUMPUR (July 16): A businesswoman has filed a suit against Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli over the PKR deputy president’s remarks made through 13 statements issued on the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal allegedly involving her and a former minister.

Zainab Mohd Salleh, 57, a single mother, filed the 96-page suit at the High Court on Dec 7, through Messrs Yusfarizal, Aziz and Zaid.

She claimed the statements issued by Rafizi between Aug 22, 2022, and Nov 1, 2022, alleging that she is married to former deputy defence minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad was not only untrue and false, but also defamatory as she had been divorced and not married since 2007.

Zainab complained the words alleged by Rafizi meant that she does not respect the relationship, marriage or matrimony of others, that she failed or did not respect the feelings of Latiff’s wife and she was not truthful with his family including her four daughters over the relationship.

She also claimed the words meant that she had secret relationship with a married man and had wed covertly against societal norms, that she had allegedly used her influence and purported family relations with Latiff for personal benefit, and that she was willing to use her husband or family member to gain financial benefit with the award of the LCS contract.

Zainab further alleged the statements meant that she was opportunistic in using others for personal gain and that she was not truthful in conducting a decent life.

She clarified that she was never married to Latiff as claimed by Rafizi.

As a result, the publication of those statements had resulted in a negative perception, view and public perception of her and her family among her friends or the public as a whole.

Zainab said through her solicitors, she had requested an apology from Rafizi, but this was not done, and the postings are still in existence in the minister’s social media, either on Facebook or X, formerly known as Twitter.

There was mala fide (bad intention), Zainab said, in the postings as Rafizi had failed to verify the facts although he had various means at his disposal. He had in turn publicised her name which could be accessed by the public.

Following this, she is seeking an apology from Rafizi, an injunction to bar him or his agents from publishing the purported defamatory statements, and general, exemplary and aggravated damages.

Furthermore, she is seeking for Rafizi to give an undertaking that he would remove any existing posts and not upload any further materials on her.

Rafizi’s defence

Rafizi, who is also the Pandan Member of Parliament, in his defence filed in February through Messrs Gan, Ho, and Razlan Hadri said the statements made were not targeted at Zainab but concern the misappropriation of funds for the LCS project as reported under the forensic audit report.

“There were false addresses and different bank accounts used for payments, and this clearly indicates the suppression of identity and beneficiary of the diverted funds,” the minister said.

He noted the appointment of Alizes Marine Ltd, a company that does not have a licence for the export of global defence spare parts and materials or any experience in the technical construction of naval warships, of which one Zainab Mohd Salleh is the shareholder.

Between 2011 and 2015, Rafizi said payments amounting to €43.69 million (RM222.55 million) were made to Alizes Marine France based on invoices sent, but payment was then made to other accounts under Alizes Marine.

The Pandan MP further claimed the defence of justification, qualified privilege and fair comment.

He denied any intention of injuring Zainab’s reputation, and maintained that what was highlighted was the misappropriation of funds.

He further said that as a politician and an MP, he has a duty to provide views on current issues that arise in the country to the community, especially when it concerns the economy and financial resources of the country.

The LCS scandal is a matter of public scrutiny and related authorities, Rafizi added.

Following case management before Judicial Commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain on Tuesday, trial dates have been fixed for March 30 and April 1, 2026.