GE14 | Former Bersatu member Anina Saadudin has expressed shock over Daim Zainuddin's response to her challenge to declare his wealth.

She also pointed out that caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak did not react in this manner when she quizzed him on the RM2.6 billion in his bank account.

“Why can Malaysians ask Najib anything but questions cannot be posted to the 'old cartel' of (former premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) and his family?” she asked in a statement.

The normally soft-spoken Daim fired a vitriolic retort when quizzed on Anina's challenge.

“Who is this bloody woman to challenge?” the former finance minister, who is now campaigning for Pakatan Harapan, told journalists yesterday.

Apart from Daim, Anina had also challenged two other former Umno ministers, who are now rooting for Mahathir and the opposition, Rafidah Aziz and Rais Yatim.

Rafidah had responded that assets she had acquired through hard-earned and honest income were none of Anina's “bloody business”.

In her statement, Anina claimed that Daim was delighted when she questioned Najib on the RM2.6 billion, which the latter and the authorities described as a donation from a Saudi royalty but Mahathir and the opposition insist it originated from 1MDB.

Answering Daim on who is she to challenge him, Anina said she is a Malaysian citizen just like the former minister.

“I have one vote and Daim has one vote.

“The difference between Daim and me is that I am a billion times poorer but this does not prevent me from questioning his wealth on the grounds of democracy and transparency,” she added.

Previously, Anina, a former Wanita Umno member, filed a misfeasance in public office suit against Najib in relation to 1MDB together with Mahathir and ex-Batu Kawan Umno division leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

The apex court had on last Feb 27, dismissed Mahathir and Khairuddin's leave to appeal after the High Court ruled that Najib is not a public officer.

Last month, the Federal Court struck out an appeal by Anina after allowing an application from lawyer Irzan Iswat from the firm of Messrs Haniff Khatri to discharge himself from representing her.