Why probe Bloomberg journos but not PM, Daim's lawyers ask IGP

Lawyers acting for former finance minister Daim Zainuddin have questioned why police are investigating journalists instead of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

This is over a police report lodged by Daim’s wife Na’imah Abdul Khalid on a Bloomberg article citing sources that alleged Anwar had ordered MACC chief Azam Baki to investigate the premier’s rivals, including Daim.

“The expectation was that the police would commence investigations by investigating the subject matter of the report, which is the allegation that Anwar had abused his official powers concerning the investigation into (ex-premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) and Daim.

“We can now inform the public that this has not happened,” the legal team representing Daim and Na’imah said in a statement today.

Na’imah had lodged a police report last week saying that the Bloomberg article vindicated their allegations that the probe against the couple was politically motivated.

‘Sham investigation’

Their lawyers, however, said police informed them yesterday that the investigation was being carried out under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 - which covers transmitting communications that annoy others - and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for statements that induce others to commit offences against the state or public peace.

“Clearly, there has been no investigation commenced against Anwar for suspected abuse of power as disclosed in a Bloomberg article,” the lawyers said.

Instead, they said police are carrying out a “sham” investigation against Bloomberg and its journalists to divert attention from the alleged crime.

“We remind the inspector-general of police (Razarudin Husain) that under Article 8 of our Federal Constitution, all are equal before the law and equally subject to the criminal law, including the prime minister.

“We demand firstly that Razarudin explain the failure to open an investigation into the allegation of abuse of power involving the PM disclosed in the Bloomberg article, and secondly that such an investigation be immediately opened.

“Failure to do so will be a mockery of our criminal justice system and the rule of law,” they claimed.

‘Probe Mahathir, avoid Farhash’

Besides action against Daim, the article also quoted sources claiming that Anwar had directed the agency to investigate Mahathir and his sons.

The article also quoted unnamed sources alleging that in March, Azam had instructed MACC officials to avoid investigating Anwar’s former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak’s stock purchases, purportedly at the behest of the prime minister.

Both the MACC and the Prime Minister’s office had denied the allegation.

The article had prompted calls for Anwar to sue Bloomberg if the allegations were false, including from former Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil - who will be questioned by police on the matter - and PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said yesterday that Anwar had not informed the cabinet that he was taking any action.

Fahmi also reaffirmed the media’s right to quote anonymous sources but sought cooperation in upholding a right to reply.

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