In a developing story, Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, the wife of former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, is set to file a police report in response to a Bloomberg article suggesting bias in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigations. The report, scheduled for submission at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters at 11 AM (30th September) centres on alleged abuse of power and conspiracy against her husband, who has been embroiled in scrutiny from the anti-graft agency.
The Bloomberg article, published on September 26, claims that MACC has been focusing its investigations on opponents of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while neglecting to probe share purchases by one of Anwar’s associates. Notably, the report names prominent figures such as former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Daim, alongside family members, as subjects of MACC inquiries. It also mentions Anwar's former political secretary, Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, regarding share transactions in HeiTech Padu Bhd from March.
Responding to these claims, MACC issued a statement asserting that there was no basis for the allegations, firmly denying any interference from the Prime Minister in their investigative processes. They characterized the article’s assertions as “wild and irresponsible,” aimed at undermining the integrity of the commission.
Na’imah, who herself has faced legal challenges, previously claimed trial for failing to declare numerous assets, including land and vehicles, as required by the MACC. She framed these charges as part of a “coordinated plot” to target her family politically. Her husband, Daim, has also been prosecuted under similar allegations regarding asset declarations, with investigations linked to corruption and money laundering stemming from revelations in the Pandora Papers.
Earlier this year, the MACC initiated investigations into Daim and Na’imah based on these serious allegations. As part of this inquiry, significant assets, including the Ilham Tower—an iconic commercial property tied to Daim’s family—were seized.
In June, Daim and his family sought legal recourse, filing a judicial review aimed at lifting the freeze on their bank accounts. This application named several parties, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and MACC’s Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, as respondents.
In a subsequent denial of the claims made by Bloomberg, Anwar’s political secretary, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, stressed that such allegations of governmental interference in MACC's operations were unfounded. He argued that these narratives only serve to diminish public confidence in the government’s commitment to anti-corruption efforts. Kamil highlighted the ongoing challenge for the current administration in countering perceptions that government agencies, including MACC, might be exploited for political ends.
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