Former Malaysian Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin has taken legal action against the head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Tan Sri Azam Baki.
Azam revealed that Daim has filed for an injunction against him and he is now able to discuss this as the case has entered the courts.
“To require someone to declare their assets, the chief commissioner must give his approval, and I signed almost all of the declaration of assets (documents) to compel (them to declare), which is why I value information.
“In this case, it is the commissioner who will get sued, and I am actually being sued by Tun Daim.
“Tun Daim is suing me because, to him, the act of the chief commissioner was wrong.
“But, I can talk about this now that it is in the court and he has filed an injunction. So, we have to fight for that,” said Azam during an interview with TVS on Thursday (Feb 15).
Azam had previously discussed the method for compelling an individual to declare his assets, stating that the MACC will look into improving its processes.
On Thursday (Feb 8), MACC stated that it may summon Daim again for questioning on suspicion of additional undeclared assets.
Azam mentioned that investigators had recently obtained information regarding Daim’s alleged assets and were currently verifying it.
Daim’s legal representatives, however, criticized Azam’s remarks as unfair to their client’s right to a fair trial, labeling the act as “unwarranted and smacks of sub judice”.
On Jan 29, Daim was charged with failure to declare his assets to MACC.
The 85-year-old was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, with a potential imprisonment of up to five years and a fine not exceeding RM100,000 if found guilty.
On Jan 23, Daim’s wife, Toh Puan Na’imah Khalid, pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to a charge of failing to comply with a MACC notice requiring the declaration of assets.
She was accused of not declaring her ownership of companies, various plots of land in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, as well as two vehicles.
