KUALA LUMPUR – Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, wife of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, says the graft charges against her are a “coordinated plot” to exact political revenge and retribution against their family.
She has maintained her innocence, claiming that the “real crime” is targeting “political opponents with concocted charges” and “wielding state power for personal ends”.
“The real crime is the emasculation and manipulation of key national institutions such as the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and AGC (Attorney-General’s Chambers) as weapons in a political vendetta.
“The real crime is vengefully pursuing old political rivals, who hold no power now, with baseless charges whilst the economy stagnates, reforms are abandoned and the country forlorn,” she said during a press conference outside the courtroom here after being charged at the sessions court.
“I have faith, insya-Allah, I will be vindicated at the end of all this.”
She also has a message for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim: “power is brief and there is always a reckoning for those who abuse it.”
However, she refused any questions from the media after delivering her statement.
Earlier, 67-year-old Na’imah pleaded not guilty before sessions court judge Azura Alwi to a charge of failing to declare her assets to MACC.
According to the charge sheet, she has given a written statement under oath that does not comply with the notice terms served to her under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act on December 13, 2023.
She has been accused of not declaring several assets, including companies Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, one Mercedes-Benz EQC400, one Mercedes-Benz SL 500, and properties including the Ilham Tower, a house in Persiaran Bukit Tunku, four lots of land in Bukit Tunku and one lot each in Penang and Taman Tun Dr Ismail, here.
The notice was issued on November 8 last year and served to her on November 14.
The court fixed a RM250,000 bail, as well as for her passport to be surrendered.
She is represented by lawyer Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden – who is also former solicitor-general II – M. Puravalen, Cheah Kha Mun and Alex Tan, while deputy public prosecutors Ahmad Feisal Mohd Azmi, Maziah Mohaide and Mohd Fadhly Mohd Zamry appeared for the prosecution.
The next case mention is scheduled for March 22.
Last night, she vowed to fight the charge levelled against her while defending her family’s fortunes.
Months ago, the agency issued Daim and his family members a notice under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009, which compels them to declare all movable and immovable assets in Malaysia and abroad within 30 days.
On January 19, Na’imah said the recent “sensationalist” news reports of the Daim family’s wealth have painted them in a bad light, even though its offshore assets are no secret.
She was referring to the reports that she and her two sons – Muhammad Amin Zainuddin and Muhammad Amir Zainuddin – are said to be beneficiaries of a trust with US$52.5 million (RM247.5 million) in assets, eclipsing Daim’s assets listed in the Pandora Papers.
Currently, Daim is being investigated by the MACC over the revelations in the Pandora Papers, which linked him and his proxies to offshore businesses worth at least US$31 million.
Last week, Daim’s legal team, led by former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, went to the high court here to challenge MACC’s probe.
MACC’s investigation into Daim was opened nearly a year ago, in February 2023, based on the mention of his name in the 2021 Pandora Papers. No charges have been brought against him yet. – January 23, 2024