Na'imah to represent late Daim in bid to unfreeze accounts

Summary

• The Kuala Lumpur High Court allows Na’imah Abdul Kahlid, the wife of the late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin to represent his estate in a civil action to unfreeze their accounts

• The Attorney-General’s Chambers has no objection to Na’imah’s application to represent Daim’s estate.

Na’imah Abdul Khalid now represents the estate of the late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin in a civil action to unfreeze the family’s bank accounts.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning allowed the application by the deceased tycoon’s 66-year-old wife, with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) raising no objection to the bid via letter.

The family’s counsel, Nizamuddin Abdul Hamid, confirmed the outcome before the civil court.

Daim, 86, passed away at Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya on Nov 13 last year. He suffered a stroke earlier and was admitted into the hospital’s intensive care unit.

On June 6 last year, Daim, Na’imah, and 22 other applicants - the couple’s four children and 18 companies - filed the judicial review leave application targeting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the MACC, and the federal government.

The 18 companies are AAD Equity Sdn Bhd, Yayasan Haji Zainuddin, Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, Anchor Point Sdn Bhd, Kangkung Catering Sdn Bhd, Adrihaniz Sdn Bhd, Syarikat Malur Sdn Bhd, Amiraz Sdn Bhd, Ridana Sdn Bhd, Daan Sdn Bhd, Maya Seni Holdings Sdn Bhd, Magical Zone Sdn Bhd, Permatang Maju (M) Sdn Bhd, Brainstorms Sdn Bhd, Arida Farms Sdn Bhd, Gajah3 Resource Centre Sdn Bhd, Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd, and Selidik Jaya Sdn Bhd.

‘Politically motivated’

According to Na’imah’s supporting affidavit, the applicants contended that they had been negatively jeopardised on the macro and micro scale due to the respondents’ various actions, including the seizure and freezing of the accounts.

“I state that every decision, action and/or statement by the respondents named in this action are intentional in order to target me and my family, via the statement (allegation) that the applicants are a corrupt family who made our wealth via wrongful means under the law.

“I have been advised by my counsel and verily believe and state that every decision, action, and/or statement of the fourth respondent (MACC) is for mere political collateral purposes,” Na’imah contended.

She pointed out that neither she nor the other applicants have been charged in court for offences linked to the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA), the same provision under which the accounts were seized and frozen.

Daim and the other applicants are seeking multiple reliefs, among them for a declaration that the seizure of their accounts is invalid for violating their constitutional right and for being driven by mala fide (bad faith).

They seek a mandamus order to unfreeze their accounts and general damages.

Last year, the government’s legal representatives from the AGC indicated they would object against the family’s judicial review leave bid.

Na’imah is also facing a separate criminal charge before the Kuala Lumpur criminal court over an alleged failure to abide by an MACC notice to declare her assets.

Following his passing, the criminal court discharged and acquitted Daim of a similar charge.

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