Daim's wife continues to claim charges are political revenge

KUALA LUMPUR: Toh Puan Na’imah Abdul Khalid, the wife of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, has stated that the charge brought against her in court on Tuesday (Jan 23) is politically motivated. She claimed that the charge was intended to tarnish her husband and their family, maintaining that she had not committed any crime.

After appearing at a press conference outside the court complex later in the morning, Na’imah asserted that the real crime was a coordinated conspiracy to tarnish her husband’s reputation and exact political revenge against their family. She also accused key national institutions such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) of being manipulated as weapons in a political vendetta.

“The real crime is vengefully pursuing old political rivals, who hold no power now, with baseless charges while the economy stagnates, reforms are abandoned and the country is forlorn,” she added.

Na’imah later claimed trial at the Sessions Court for a charge under anti-graft law of failure to declare assets, maintaining her innocence. According to the charge sheet, Na’imah had allegedly given a written statement under oath that did not comply with the terms of notice under Section 36(1) (b) of the MACC Act 2009.

She allegedly did not declare assets as stated in Appendix A, which includes two companies: Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd and Ilham Baru Sdn Bhd, two Mercedes-Benz cars and eight properties, including Menara Ilham, a house in Persiaran Bukit Tunku, and several lots in Bukit Tunku and Penang.

Na’imah expressed being overwhelmed by the support they have received from people, many unknown to them, since news broke about the impending charge. She mentioned having to rush to the hospital where Daim was warded, declining to comment on his condition as it was a personal matter.