The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) wants to meet Anwar Ibrahim on the evidence he purportedly possesses on former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.

However, the opposition leader told reporters that he cannot find the time, and invited the MACC officers to meet him either in the Sungai Buloh or Kajang prison, if the need arose.

"I have expressed my intention to cooperate with MACC, but now I am busy because all my relatives want to meet me for at least five minutes.

"If I am free after Feb 10, I will meet them. If not, I will invite them to either the Kajang or Sungai Buloh prison," he said.

"Langkah Kajang (Kajang move), langkah terus masuk Kajang (step straight into Kajang prison)," he joked.

Anwar said that MACC should not have problems in gathering evidence against Daim as it can go to the Treasury and other institutions to do so.

Not related to Umno tussle

The opposition leader also denied that the issue concerning Daim was related to the tussle in Umno.

"I am not related to the internal tussle within Umno. I am no longer an Umno member.

"My statement on Daim refers to what happened back in 1999 where I had made a police report and I have even submitted the necessary documents to court.

"Even before the last general election I had mentioned Daim's (alleged) role in amassing excessive wealth," he said.

Since the mainstream media provided space for Anwar and PKR to launch attacks on Daim, a strongman of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, speculation has been rife of a realignment in political forces.

Some have claimed that Anwar has joined hands with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to counter the latter’s opponents in Umno.

On another matter, the opposition leader described Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s call on Malays to boycott Chinese traders as "unacceptable, racist and flawed".

Anwar said it was within the power of the federal government to control monopolies.

On the Prime Minister's Office which had said that Ismail had not targeted Chinese traders alone, he said: "It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister's Office had responded as such. The PMO should go back to the facts and advise Ismail accordingly."

He added that the government should first deal with monopolies of goods such as rice and sugar.

"And why doesn't the government talk about rich cronies amassing profits in the billions?” he asked.