Malaysian ex-minister Daim Zainuddin’s wife charged for failure to declare assets as graft-busters encircle Anwar’s rivals
- Naimah Abdul Khalid, who was banned from leaving the country, faces up to five years in jail if convicted
- Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency has stepped up probe into Daim’s family wealth, sparking accusations PM Anwar is using investigations to settle scores with his foes
Prosecutors told a Kuala Lumpur court that Naimah Abdul Khalid had failed to comply with a November 8 notice issued by the MACC requiring that she disclose her assets.
Naimah, 65, pleaded not guilty. The court released her on 250,000 ringgit (US$52,800) bail and seized her passport. If found guilty, she faces up to five years in jail and a fine of up to 100,000 ringgit (US$21,117).
Malaysia ex-minister Daim slams PM Anwar for ‘political witch-hunt’ over probe
Naimah’s defence counsel argued that she was not a flight risk and that she may need to accompany her husband for treatment overseas.
“She’s not going anywhere. She is here to stay and fight the case,” her lead counsel, Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden said.
Daim has reportedly been hospitalised since last week for an undisclosed medical condition.
In a brief statement outside the court, Naimah said the charge and the ongoing investigation were a coordinated plot to tarnish Daim’s reputation “and exact political revenge and retribution against him and our family”.
Naimah accused Anwar of using state powers to target his political opponents while corruption charges against his “political cronies” were dropped.
“Finally, I say this to you, Anwar Ibrahim, that power is brief and there is always a reckoning for those who abuse it,” she said after posting bail.
“I have faith I will be vindicated at the end of all this.”
Malaysian authorities earlier also ruled that there was no wrongdoing by MACC chief Azam Baki over his ownership of stakes in several public-listed companies.
Naimah’s charge comes a week after a separate court heard an application by Daim – a long-time close associate of Mahathir – and his family to challenge the MACC’s investigation into their wealth.
Former finance minister Daim, who has denied any wrongdoing, said the MACC’s actions were unlawful and unconstitutional.
Mahathir slams ‘racist’ critic in swipe at Malaysia’s ethnic minority groups
Anwar has brushed away allegations of political revenge, saying he needs public support for his administration’s efforts to push government reform and tackle Malaysia’s endemic corruption.
“If there is no political support for this, at least in the issue of governance and the demand for change, I seek the full support of the people,” he was quoted as saying at an event by national newswire Bernama on Monday.
Mahathir, however, alleged that the corruption crackdown was merely an excuse for Anwar and his government “to make sure I am found guilty” of a crime to hide the fact that his administration does not enjoy majority support.
Malaysian politics had been shaped by the bitter feud between the two leaders for more than two decades, after Mahathir had in his first term as prime minister sacked Anwar as his deputy in 1998 and later had him charged for corruption and sodomy.
Anwar and his supporters maintain that the charges were trumped up to end his political career. He was released from prison in the early 2000s, but jailed a second time for a separate sodomy conviction.
Anwar was released on a royal pardon in 2018 at the beginning of Mahathir’s second prime ministerial term.
