KUALA LUMPUR – Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin begins his bid for a judicial review today to challenge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation against him and his family.
Neither he nor any of his family members, who are also applicants in the judicial review, appeared at the high court here this morning.
Lawyer Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, the former attorney-general who is representing Daim and his family in the judicial review, arrived around 10.40am, before the judicial review application hearing was scheduled to start at 11am.
Last Wednesday, Daim, 85, and his family filed an application for leave for a judicial review, naming the MACC and the public prosecutor as the first and second respondents, respectively.
The wealthy tycoon and close confidant of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asserted that despite other probes for corruption in the past, he has never been charged.
In his supporting affidavit, Daim asserted that his success as a businessman, with assets and properties acquired through legitimate means, predated his entry into politics.
His wife, Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid and two sons, Muhammad Amin Zainuddin Daim and Muhammad Amir Zainuddin Daim, were questioned by MACC for nearly nine hours on January 10.
Daim himself was to have been questioned by MACC yesterday, but news reports quoting sources said he was hospitalised and did not keep his appointment with the anti-graft agency.
MACC has confirmed that it is investigating Daim under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
An investigation paper on him was opened in February based on information from the leaked Pandora Papers on wealth held by prominent people in offshore accounts.
On June 7, Daim was sent a notice to declare all his assets, both inside and outside the country, within 30 days. The notice was issued under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act.
However, the tycoon requested five extensions, which he was granted on July 6, August 10, September 11, October 11 and November 14.
Having failed to respond after the last extension, the public prosecutor then issued a notice of seizure on the Ilham Tower commercial property, which Daim owns, on December 18. The notice was issued under Section 38(1) of the MACC Act on the seizure of immovable property. – January 16, 2024