The widow of former finance minister Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin has announced plans to seek a gag order from the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to prevent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from making further public comments about her and her family, citing concerns that such remarks could prejudice ongoing legal proceedings.
The intended application was revealed on February 3, 2026, during a case mention involving Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, who is facing charges for allegedly failing to comply with a notice issued by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The notice required her to declare 12 assets said to be located in areas including Kuala Lumpur and Penang. The case remains at the mention stage.
Na’imah’s lawyer, Rajesh Nagarajan, told the court that the defence was seeking an order to restrain the prime minister from making statements that could undermine his client’s right to a fair trial. According to the defence, the concern stemmed from references allegedly made in 17 media reports published between January 2024 and July 2025, which were said to contain language portraying Na’imah and the late Tun Daim in a negative and prejudicial manner.
Rajesh argued that certain expressions used in public discourse created the impression of wrongdoing before the court had the opportunity to hear and determine the case. He maintained that such statements, when made by the country’s head of government, carried significant weight and risked being perceived as executive interference in judicial matters.
The defence further contended that repeated public commentary had caused distress and anxiety to Na’imah, who is 69, and her family. Rajesh said the situation raised fears that the case could effectively be decided in the court of public opinion rather than through proper judicial process, undermining the principle of fairness guaranteed under the law.
In response, deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Fadhly Mohd Zamry said the prosecution had not been formally served with any application for a gag order prior to the court session. He added that while the defence had provided a list of articles that morning, the prosecution’s position was that the prime minister’s remarks, as reported, did not directly comment on or question the ongoing court proceedings.
Mohamad Fadhly further stated that the comments referred to by the defence were general in nature and should not be interpreted as an attempt to influence the case before the Sessions Court. As such, the prosecution maintained that there was no basis to conclude that the statements amounted to interference with judicial proceedings.
The court has yet to hear the formal application for the gag order, which is expected to be filed by the defence at a later date as the case progresses.
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