SHAH ALAM - There is no need for the Attorney General (AG) or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to review, discontinue or withdraw the ongoing prosecution against former finance minister, the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, says his widow Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid.
She made it clear that neither she nor her family was seeking such action.
In a statement, Na'imah said her late husband had wished for the pending charge against him to proceed in court until the disposal of the case, regardless of what happened to him.
She added that Daim had looked forward to his day in court and had no doubt that he would finally be acquitted.
"We have consistently said from the beginning of the MACC’s so-called investigation, more than one and half years ago, that this is a frivolous, malicious and politically motivated action against Daim.
"That it is baseless is clear from the fact that neither the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) who instigated the probe nor the MACC chief commissioner (Tan Sri Azam Baki) have been able to say, until today, what offence Daim is alleged to have committed.
"We will not allow Anwar to hide behind Daim’s death to evade responsibility for his repeated public slanders against Daim.
"Daim’s eventual acquittal will prove Anwar’s perfidy and deceit, I have instructed my solicitors to write to the AG to give notice of our resolve in this matter." she said.
Na'imah was referring to the statements issued by the AG and MACC following Daim's death that they will "review the ongoing prosecution" against him at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on the alleged failure to disclose assets.
She said her counsel will inform the court accordingly that they wished to proceed with the trial when the proceeding resumes on Nov 20.
On Jan 29, Daim, 86, whose full name was Che Abdul Daim Zainuddin, seated in a wheelchair pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a notice to declare his assets, which included several luxury vehicles, companies and properties in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Perak and Kedah.
He was charged with failing to declare his assets by deliberately giving a written statement under oath that did not comply with the terms of the notice dated Nov 8, 2023, sent to him by an MACC officer with the rank of Commissioner on Nov 14, 2023, to do so.
The offence was allegedly committed at the MACC Headquarters, Putrajaya on Dec 13, 2023.
The charge, framed under Section 36 (2) of the MACC Act 2009, provides a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to RM100,000, if convicted.
Daim passed away while receiving treatment at Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya at 8.21am on Nov 13.