TL;DR:
Former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s wife, Naimah Khalid, has claimed that her husband is being targeted in a corruption probe because of his success. Khalid stated that Daim was already a multimillionaire before joining the government and that his success is now being used to tarnish his reputation. The family-owned Menara Ilham skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur has recently been seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as part of the investigation.
Key Points:
- Daim Zainuddin’s wife, Naimah Khalid, asserts that her husband’s success is being used as an excuse to target him in a corruption probe. She claims that the media had referred to Daim as a tycoon and multimillionaire before he entered public office.
- Khalid expressed her concern that the investigation is spreading disinformation and misperception, suggesting that wealth equals corruption. She argues that her husband’s success is being unfairly used against him.
- Khalid and her sons were summoned by anti-corruption investigators for questioning. The family extended their cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) despite questioning the motive behind the investigation.
- The family’s lawyers expressed disappointment that the MACC did not inform them of the specific offense being investigated. They accused the MACC of conducting a fishing expedition to gather information to charge Daim.
- The MACC has stated that the investigations against Daim are based on the law and information from the leaked Pandora Papers. The seizure of the family-owned Menara Ilham skyscraper is part of the ongoing investigation.
Former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s wife, Naimah Khalid, has claimed that her husband is being targeted in a corruption probe because of his success. Khalid stated that Daim was already a multimillionaire before joining the government and that his success is now being used to tarnish his reputation. The family-owned Menara Ilham skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur has recently been seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as part of the investigation.
Khalid has expressed concern that the investigation is spreading disinformation and misperception, suggesting that wealth equates to corruption. She argues that her husband’s success is being unfairly used against him. Prior to entering the MACC headquarters for questioning, Khalid addressed the media and read out a statement.
The family’s lawyers, Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Sohanpal, accompanied Khalid and her two sons to the questioning. Rajesh criticized the MACC for not informing the family of the specific offense being investigated. He accused the commission of conducting a fishing expedition to gather information to charge Daim.
The MACC has defended its investigations against Daim, stating that they are based on the law and information from the leaked Pandora Papers. They issued a notice to Daim on June 7, 2023, under the MACC Act 2009. The seizure of the family-owned Menara Ilham skyscraper is part of the ongoing investigation.
Overall, Naimah Khalid’s claims that her husband is being targeted in the corruption probe because of his success highlight the underlying tensions between wealth and corruption in Malaysian politics. The allegation that the investigation is politically motivated adds another layer to the case and raises questions about the credibility of the investigation. The seizure of the family-owned skyscraper also demonstrates the seriousness with which the MACC is pursuing the allegations against Daim. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the allegations will be resolved and the impact they will have on Daim’s reputation and political future.
