Daim's widow slams freezing of assets by MACC as illegal, 'institutionalised theft'

The widow of the late Daim Zainuddin has condemned the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) move to freeze properties abroad and expressed shock that she was not notified of the court application, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration renews its pursuit of the former finance minister more than six months after his death.

Na'imah Khalid said she had only learnt through media reports that MACC had frozen the family's assets abroad.

"MACC obtained this ex parte order secretly, in silence behind closed doors, and I was never given the chance to speak," she said in a statement, calling the latest move "vindictive and politically motivated".

"I should have been allowed to have my say in court. No reasonable person will say this was in accordance with fairness or the rules of natural justice. They obtained the order by ambush."

Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted a court order to MACC to freeze assets worth more than RM750 million belonging to Na’imah and her family in the United Kingdom.

The latest move comes on the back of yet another controversial decision by Anwar to extend Azam Baki's contract  to helm MACC. Anwar has since defended the move, praising Azam "brave" in fighting corruption.

Last month, Azam was accused of playing politics after he claimed to have obtained "new information" about "high-value" assets linked to Daim and his family members, with MACC opening eight fresh probes.

This was despite the charges against Daim related to non-declaration of assets being dropped shortly after his death.

"It is cowardly, as Daim is no longer in a position to defend himself or his family," said lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh, who are representing Na’imah and her family.

Months before his death last November, an ailing Daim had become the target of attacks by Anwar, who accused him of amassing wealth illegally, a frequent claim by the prime minister against his political enemies.

An investigation launched against him by MACC quickly became embroiled in controversy following a damning report that the probe was launched by Azam under pressure from Anwar.

Na'imah, in her statement today, called the asset freeze by MACC "ashocking infringement of the most basic legal norms".

"In fact, there is no provision under the law authorising such an ex parte application to the be made. And now they hide behind the cloak of legality to justify what is nothing short of institutionalised theft," she said.

"It is unacceptable this is happening in Malaysia. Seizure of property by the government without notice to the legal owner is a dangerous precedent."

Na'imah reiterated that the actions against the late Daim and his family were part of a "long and continuous smear campaign" by Anwar and Azam since late 2022.

"The most disturbing and shocking aspect of this is that it is being done despiteno crime of any kind being proven against Daim," she added.

She questioned whether government agencies could now act on the basis of "rumour and political animus".

"A line has been crossed. And 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. I will not bow down to bullies. Truth and justice will prevail.

"To those who abuse their power, remember Surah Ash Shura 42-42," she said, citing Quranic verses warning rulers who treat others unjustly.