PUTRAJAYA – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will today file a forfeiture application in court for the Ilham Tower (Menara Ilham), located on Jalan Binjai, Kuala Lumpur.
MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said the building, linked to the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, is the latest asset to be subjected to forfeiture proceedings by the MACC.
“We are initiating the forfeiture process today. Let me stress that it is not a straightforward process as there are many steps involved, and the documentation concerning the Ilham Tower is extensive,” he said at a press conference here.
He also confirmed that several other assets will undergo similar proceedings in the near future.
Earlier this month, the MACC announced that it had obtained approval from the deputy public prosecutor to seize the building under the Notice of Seizure of Immovable Property issued pursuant to Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001), dated 4 June.
This marked the second time the 60-storey building was seized, following an earlier confiscation in December 2023 under the MACC Act and the Criminal Procedure Code.
In its June 5 statement, the MACC said the seizure was carried out after the deputy public prosecutor was satisfied it was linked to suspected offences under AMLA. The seizure restricts any transfer of ownership pending further legal action, and any breach of this notice constitutes an offence.
Today’s court action, however, represents a shift from seizure to forfeiture – where the MACC seeks to permanently strip ownership of the asset through judicial proceedings. Unlike seizure, which is temporary and investigative, forfeiture requires a court ruling and results in the asset being transferred to the government.
Completed in 2015, the landmark, also known as Ilham Baru Tower (Menara IB) – houses a four-star hotel, corporate offices, a gallery, a food court, and souvenir shops. Thirty-three floors are designated for office use, with the remaining levels comprising serviced apartments. – June 25, 2025