Leave Daim, probe Anwar instead – Na'imah tells MACC

The MACC should be investigating Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim instead of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, said the latter’s widow.

This comes after the anti-graft body said it would continue investigating Daim and his family over the purchase of assets overseas.

“It’s better for MACC and their resources to probe the PM’s admission in Parliament that private entrepreneurs had been paying for his trips abroad.

“What are they getting in return? Is this not corruption?” Na’imah Abdul Khalid asked in a statement today.

She was referring to Anwar’s statement in Parliament that private companies bore 70-80 percent of the cost of his recent overseas trips in November.

The prime minister later clarified on Nov 25 that the government paid for his portion of the official trips.

He added that the balance of seats on the flights was offered to private companies who were going to the same countries as he was to seek investments or partnerships.

These private companies paid RM4.5 million for their share of the flight costs.

Probe goes on

On Nov 20, Daim was discharged and acquitted of an asset disclosure charge, following his death a week earlier.

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court granted the acquittal following an application by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin for the case to be withdrawn.

On Nov 22, the MACC announced it would continue investigating the financial trail of assets linked to Daim and his family.

“This investigation also involves the late Daim’s wife, Na’imah, and his family members, focusing on the acquisition of overseas assets.

“The tracing of financial trails abroad is actively underway with the cooperation of international agencies,” MACC added.

What money trail?

Unimpressed, Na’imah reminded the authorities that the court had acquitted her late husband.

“Is the government not respecting the decision of the courts?

“Furthermore, what money trail? To probe a ‘money trail’, there must have been an offence of corruption committed first.

“If there is no offence, then assets whether held in Malaysia or elsewhere are lawful and the result of hard work,” she stressed.

Nai’mah pointed out that since last year, Daim had written to the MACC chief commissioner several times, seeking information on what his alleged offence was.

“Till his death, they were not able to give an answer. Was this fair to him?

“Only in dictatorships are people investigated but not told what their offence is,” she said.

Turning her attention to Anwar, Nai’mah criticised the Tambun MP for accusing her husband of wrongdoings but failed to furnish any evidence to back his claims.

“Is it fair to accuse someone without evidence just to satisfy a thirst for revenge?

“In Islam, slander is a grave sin for which those who slander are cursed in this life and the next.”

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