Tun Daim's widow to contest asset freeze order
PETALING JAYA: Tun Daim Zainuddin's widow Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid plans to challenge the order to freeze Daim's overseas assets by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) through the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
"I will challenge this order to defend what should never be taken from any of us: our rights, our voice, and a country governed by law, not by fear.
"I was not notified of the asset seizure by MACC, which is a shocking infringement of the most basic legal norms. It is unacceptable that this is happening in Malaysia," she said.
Naimah added that she only became aware of the order through media reports and added that the government's seizure of property without notifying the legal owner sets a dangerous precedent.
She then accused the MACC of obtaining the ex-parte order secretly behind closed doors, saying in a statement on Wednesday (June 4) that she was never given a chance to speak and adding that she should have been allowed to in court.
Naimah then said that this action is being taken despite no crime being proven against Daim.
"The law under which the MACC is acting, the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), requires such orders only be granted where there is a 'serious offence' as defined under the Second Schedule.
"No such offence or charge has ever been proven or brought against me or Daim, neither during his lifetime nor after his death," Na'imah added.
On Tuesday (June 3), the High Court approved the MACC application to freeze assets worth UK£132mil (RM759mil) in London, United Kingdom allegedly owned by Na'imah and her family.
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid granted the ex-parte (unilateral) application by the MACC under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001), for investigation under Section 4(1) of the same act.
The assets include two commercial buildings at St Mary Axe and One Crown Court, three luxury residences in Bryanston Square, Bryanston Mews, and Lancaster Gate, two residential units at Gloucester Place, and a bank account at CAF Bank Ltd (UK) allegedly owned by The Ilham Foundation.
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