UMNO Youth vice-chief, Khairul Azwan Harun has filed a suit against PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli for linking him to the recent property purchases in Melbourne made by MARA.

Khairul stressed, the legal action was initiated after Rafizi had failed to apologise and retract his statement.

“My lawyers have filed legal action (suit) against Rafizi at the courts for libel and slander he made on me regarding the business transaction issue by MARA recently.

“I would like to stress that the allegations by Rafizi against me and the UMNO Youth wing are false and malicious,” he told Astro AWANI here today.

He had also posted his statement on his Facebook page today.

It was earlier reported that Rafizi had gone out of his way to link Khairul Azwan and several UMNO Youth Exco members to the MARA property scandal amounting to RM63 million.

UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had previously denied Rafizi’s claims, describing them as illogical and without evidence.

Khairy said, Rafizi should come forward with evidence to back his claims.

UMNO Youth Exco member, Ibdillah Ishak had also reportedly said that Rafizi’s attempt to tarnish Khairul Azwan’s image will only be vain.

Meanwhile Khairul Azwan said, the decision to take legal action was made to uphold the truth and defend the pride of the UMNO Youth wing and the position entrusted upon me.

“I would like to remind everyone that the UMNO Youth wing, myself included, support healthy debates and differences of opinion and cannot allow the culture of lies and slander to thrive as this would only ruin the country’s political landscape.

“Do right and fear no man,” he said.

Rafizi had also been said to make defamatory statements regarding the luxury cars provided for delegates at the ASEAN Summit which had been sponsored by a luxury car manufacturer.