'Don't hide behind Daim's death' - widow tells PM, wants case to go on

The wife of the late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin has demanded that the attorney-general (AG) continue with the asset-disclosure criminal court case against the deceased.

Na’imah Abdul Khalid today said that she wished for the case to continue in court to clear the name of the businessperson.

“Now, I state categorically on behalf of Daim, that it was his wish that the pending charge against him be proceeded with in court until conclusion, whatever happens to him.

“Daim looked forward to his day in court and had no doubt that he would be finally acquitted.

“In short, there is no need for the AG or MACC chief (commissioner Azam Baki) to review, discontinue or withdraw the prosecution against Daim. We do not seek it.

“We will not allow (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim 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,” Na’imah said in a media statement.

‘No such offence’

She was responding to media statements by the AG and the MACC chief commissioner that they will “review the ongoing prosecution” against the former finance minister following his death.

“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 who instigated the probe nor Azam have been able to say, until today, what offence Daim is alleged to have committed.

“They cannot say what offence, because there is no such offence,” she reiterated.

Daim, 86, and Na’imah, 66, claimed trial before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court earlier this year to alleged failure to abide by a MACC notice to disclose their assets.

The deceased’s case is set for mention before the lower court tomorrow.

Daim passed away while warded over a stroke at the intensive care unit of Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya.

Daim left behind his wife Na’imah and five children.

Long, storied career

The business tycoon was first appointed as the finance minister in 1984 by the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and served until 1991.

He was appointed to the office again for a second tenure in 1999, also by Mahathir, before he resigned in 2001.

Daim was previously an Umno member and was an MP for five consecutive terms from 1982 until 1999 (Kuala Muda for one term, and Merbok for four).

Known as a close ally to Mahathir, he was sacked from the party after Daim and several others appeared at a Pakatan Harapan mega ceramah in Malacca in 2018.

MACC probe

The retired politician recently came under the spotlight again after MACC launched investigations against him for suspected graft and money laundering.

His criminal case before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court deals with assets encompassing 38 firms, 25 pieces of land and property, seven luxury vehicles, and two investment fund accounts.

On top of this, the anti-graft agency reportedly seized Ilham Tower, a high commercial-value building located in Kuala Lumpur, owned by Daim's family.

Incidentally, besides the criminal asset-disclosure case, Na’imah also has a pending civil court action against the Inland Revenue Board’s bid to compel her to pay over RM313 million in alleged tax arrears.

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