MACC gets approval to seize Daim's Ilham Tower again

Summary

• The MACC has secured new approval to seize Daim Zainuddin's Ilham Tower under Section 51(1) of the Amlatfpuaa 2001.

• This is separate from their previous 2023 seizure of the same building under different legislation (MACC Act 2009).

The MACC said it has obtained approval to seize Daim Zainuddin’s Ilham Tower, a popular corporate building in central Kuala Lumpur.

In 2023, the MACC seized the building under the MACC Act 2009.

Channel News Asia claimed that the seizure of Ilham Tower at that time took place after the former two-time finance minister refused to comply with the MACC's request to disclose financial information.

CNA claimed that the seizure was linked to an anti-money laundering probe, which began in late May, into a corporate transaction in 1997 related to the Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM) deal.

The anti-graft agency announced today that it will seize the property under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amlatfpuaa) 2001.

It added that a notice of seizure of immovable property was issued yesterday.

“Through this notice, the authorisation for seizure was granted pursuant to the powers conferred upon the public prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593), whereby the deputy public prosecutor is satisfied with the information provided by the MACC officer that it is related to an offence under subsection 4(1) of the Amlatfpuaa 2001.

“Accordingly, it is ordered that the Ilham Tower building be seized by an MACC investigating officer, and all dealings involving the transfer of ownership of the said immovable property are now prohibited.

“Failure to comply with this notice constitutes an offence under the Amlatfpuaa 2001,” the agency’s statement read.

Daim's wife vows to fight

On June 4, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed the MACC to seize seven properties belonging to Daim’s family.

Among those seized, via an ex parte application, are three luxury homes in London and one bank account, said to be worth RM758.2 million.

The assets are among the items being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla) and Amlatfpuaa 2001.

Irate over the MACC’s latest move to seize more assets from her family, Daim’s wife Na’imah Abdul Khalid said she would challenge the matter in court.

“My lawyers will immediately challenge and set aside the order. This is to defend what should never be taken from any of us - our rights, our voice, and a country governed by law, not by fear,” she said in a statement.

Calling MACC’s latest move as politically motivated and vindictive, Na’imah said she would use all legal means at her disposal to challenge it and vowed “to not bow down to bullies”.

“A line has been crossed. If we do not resist, there may soon be no lines left at all, then no Malaysian will be safe from the reach of unchecked power,” she added.

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