After long silence over power abuse report against Anwar, police declare 'no further action'

Lawyers for the family of the late Daim Zainuddin have expressed shock at the police's sudden decision not to pursue investigations into a police report on Anwar Ibrahim over a damning Bloomberg article last year that the prime minister had ordered the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to go after political enemies while sparing a former aide.

Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, representing the former finance minister's widow Na'imah Khalid who has come under fresh probes by authorities, said they were informed by police of a "no further action" decision in relation to a police report their client had lodged against Anwar. 

It came less than 48 hours after Na'imah filed a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) about inaction by the police over a report she lodged against Anwar last year.

"The decision is unacceptable, outrageous and contrary to good governance and the rule of law," the lawyers said in a statement, questioning the silence of the police and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).

"This NFA decision comes just days after Na'imah lodged a complaint with the IPCC on the long failure to take action on her police report. No details have been given of who was questioned, what steps were taken or what were the reasons for the NFA.

"Was Anwar Ibrahim questioned? Was Azam Baki questioned? Was the investigation fair, thorough and impartial?"

Last week, Na'imah, who maintains that she and her late husband are victims of Anwar's witch-hunt of his political enemies, said there had been no update from authorities since her police report calling for the prime minister to be investigated for abuse of power.

Her police report in September last year was made days after Bloomberg cited three informed sources as saying that Azam, the MACC chief commissioner, had told his officers that its investigations into Daim, former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his children were launched on Anwar's instructions.

The sources also claimed that Anwar had told Azam not to investigate his former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador over the controversial purchase of shares in a company linked to the development of a new billion-ringgit immigration system.

The Bloomberg report came as an ailing Daim became the target of attacks by Anwar, who accused him of amassing wealth illegally, a frequent claim by the prime minister against his political enemies.

In their statement today, Na'imah's lawyers accused the police and AGC of "quietly" closing the case, adding that this would not stop them from pursuing the case further.

"The matter will be pursued until the truth is revealed and right is done. Malaysians deserve institutions that serve the public, not those in power."

The refusal of the police and AGC to pursue the case is reminiscent of their muted response to the assault case involving deaf e-hailing driver Ong Ing Keong, despite a dashcam video showing a security officer of Johor ruler Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim punching him in the face in an incident that sparked public outrage last year.

A man identified in court documents as Taufik Ismail, 32, was only charged about five months later, only to be let off with a RM1,000 fine, after a quick trial criticised by Ong's lawyer as well as disability activists.