KUALA LUMPUR – The widow of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, has rapped the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for saying that it would continue its probe into Daim’s assets despite his death and the recent court acquittal.
Na’imah said that the anti-graft agency, until Daim’s death, was not able to provide answers to him for the reasons behind their investigations.
In a statement, Na’imah accused MACC of “making a baseless statement” which claimed that the agency will be continuing its investigation, where it is tracing the financial trail of assets owned by the late former minister.
MACC said that the investigation will be focusing on the acquisition of overseas assets and that the tracing of financial trails abroad is actively underway with the cooperation of international agencies.
“The courts have acquitted Daim. Is the government not respecting the decisions of the courts?
“Furthermore, what money trail? To probe a “money trail”, there must be an offence of corruption committed first.
“If there is no offence, then assets whether held in Malaysia or elsewhere are lawful and the results of hard work,” said Na’imah.
She also said that Daim had written repeatedly to MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki to ask about the offence that he allegedly committed which warranted the agency’s investigation.
“Till his death, they were not able to give an answer. Was this fair to him?,” asked Na’imah.
She then accused MACC and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of not giving Daim a chance to defend himself by telling him the offences that he was supposed to have committed.
She went on to suggest the anti-graft agency probe Anwar on his recent statement in Parliament regarding his overseas trips being funded by private firms.
On November 20, the sessions court here freed Daim of charges of failing to comply with a notice to declare his assets to the anti-graft authority, a week after his death on November 13 at the age of 86.
Judge Azura Alwi gave the order after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin informed the court that the prosecution would no longer continue proceedings against Daim following his death.
Azura said her order was in line with Section 254(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. – November 30, 2024
