The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has escalated its investigation into assets linked to the family of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, with fresh legal actions filed both domestically and abroad. On Wednesday, June 25, MACC confirmed that it had submitted an application to the Kuala Lumpur High Court to seize ownership of the Ilham Tower, a prominent 60-storey skyscraper believed to be owned by Daim’s family.
According to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, this forfeiture bid marks only the beginning. During a press conference in Putrajaya, he noted that additional applications targeting other domestic assets associated with Daim, his widow Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, and other family members would be filed within the coming weeks. These steps are part of a broader push to recover assets allegedly tied to unlawful financial activity.
Parallel to this development, the prosecution has submitted an application to the High Court seeking a prohibition against Na’imah or any of her associates from dealing with substantial overseas holdings, specifically in Jersey, a British Crown Dependency. Deputy public prosecutor Maziah Mohaide, representing the government, stated that the application—filed ex-parte—is rooted in provisions under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Unlawful Activity Act 2001 (AMLA).
These Jersey-based assets, reportedly undeclared to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), are estimated to be worth around US$157.5 million (roughly RM667 million) and £85 million. The authorities have cited breaches under Section 113 of the Income Tax Act and Section 4(1) of AMLA as the basis for their action.
Na’imah’s legal representative, Syed Afiq Syed Albakri, has sought to intervene in the proceedings and requested that all related court documents be served to his client. This marks the third time Malaysian prosecutors have moved to restrict access to offshore assets tied to the Daim family, following earlier efforts involving properties in the United Kingdom and Singapore.
The legal actions highlight the Malaysian government’s intensified efforts to recover alleged illicit assets across multiple jurisdictions, while casting a wider net over financial dealings connected to influential political figures. The proceedings are expected to draw further scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
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