Latest news with #Daim

Legal storm hits PM, Dr M unfurls 'big umbrella'

Malaysiakini

an hour ago

Politics
Malaysiakini

Legal storm hits PM, Dr M unfurls 'big umbrella'

Good morning. Wishing our Muslim readers Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha. Here's our news and views that matter for today. Key Highlights Legal storm hits PM, Dr M unfurls 'big umbrella' Daim's dynasty under fire, his widow fires back Rafizi in green, trading blows with Anwar? Legal storm hits PM, Dr M unfurls 'big umbrella' The Kuala Lumpur High Court has denied Anwar Ibrahim's bid to suspend his ex-aide Yusoff Rawther's civil suit in relation to a sexual assault allegation. Ordering that the trial proceeds on June 16 as scheduled, the court further ruled that the eight constitutional questions the prime minister sought to refer to the Federal Court did not meet the required threshold. Anwar has insisted that his bid to suspend the lawsuit was never about seeking personal immunity from litigation but 'concerns the integrity of our constitutional system and the need to ensure that high public office is protected from litigation that may be strategically timed, politically motivated, or institutionally disruptive'. Adding to the prime minister's list of political headaches, his age-defying nemesis, Dr Mahathir Mohamad - now well into his wizard years - has unveiled another grand scheme to unseat his former apprentice and 'save the Malays'. The politician, who is just a month away from blowing out 100 birthday candles, unveiled a new Malay secretariat committee - pitched as a 'big umbrella' for the community. HIGHLIGHTS Daim's dynasty under fire, his widow fires back The MACC has secured approval to seize Daim Zainuddin's Ilham Tower once again, much to the frustration of the late former finance minister's lawyers, who have accused the commission of 'playing musical chairs with the law'. This development follows closely after the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted permission for the commission to seize seven properties belonging to Daim's family. Among the assets seized through an ex parte application are three luxury homes in London and a bank account reportedly valued at RM758.2 million. Daim's widow Na'imah Abdul Khalid has vowed to challenge the seizure and 'to not bow down to bullies'. 'A line has been crossed. If we do not resist, there may soon be no lines left at all, then no Malaysian will be safe from the reach of unchecked power,' she emphasised. HIGHLIGHTS Rafizi in green, trading blows with Anwar? Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has expressed a desire to see former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli go head-to-head with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the next general election. He has urged PAS to make every effort to court Rafizi - who recently resigned as economy minister - and nominate him to contest the prime minister's parliamentary seat in Tambun, Perak. The ex-law minister also encouraged the Islamist party to approach former PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, suggesting that he contest in Bentong, which is DAP MP Young Syefura Othman's seat. Both Rafizi and Nik Nazm resigned as ministers after failing to defend their respective party positions in the PKR polls. Previously, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan clarified that while the party has no plans to recruit the two leaders into Perikatan Nasional, it would not oppose their cooperation with the opposition bloc in Parliament. HIGHLIGHTS Views that matter In case you missed it Other news that matter

[UPDATED] Na'imah to challenge MACC's second seizure of Ilham Tower

New Straits Times

12 hours ago

Politics
New Straits Times

[UPDATED] Na'imah to challenge MACC's second seizure of Ilham Tower

KUALA LUMPUR: Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid will challenge in court the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) second seizure of Ilham Tower. In a statement, her lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal described the repeated action as "pure harassment" and accused the MACC of acting beyond the bounds of the law. "This is the most ridiculous action yet taken by the MACC. The same building has already been seized, and yet it is now being seized again. Is the MACC playing musical chairs with the law?" the statement read. The lawyers also criticised the authorities for allegedly targeting Na'imah's late husband, former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, despite no corruption charges having been brought against him. "It bears repeating that, despite the prime minister and the MACC chief's repeated allegations and insinuations against Daim, no offence of corruption has been brought against him. "Now, having failed to bring any charges, they are harassing our client with a second seizure," they said. They added that the move, without any evidence of wrongdoing, violated the rule of law and amounted to persecution. Earlier, the MACC said it had been authorised to seize Ilham Tower once again, a building owned by Daim's family. The commission said it had obtained authorisation from the deputy public prosecutor. According to the MACC, the seizure was based on a Notice of Seizure of Immovable Property under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA), dated June 4. It added that authorisation for the seizure was granted pursuant to powers conferred on the public prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code. Ilham Tower, located in downtown Kuala Lumpur near the Petronas Twin Towers, houses a four-star hotel, office spaces, a gallery, and other facilities. This is not the first time the MACC has seized the In December 2023, it was reported that the MACC had invoked its powers to seize ownership of the multi-million ringgit tower. Sources said the seizure period was 18 months, the longest ever obtained by the commission. It was understood that the move was part of the MACC's investigation into a corporate transaction valued at RM2.3 billion involving publicly listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM). A news portal had reported that the seizure was linked to Daim's refusal to comply with MACC requests to declare his and his family's financial holdings. However, the MACC had previously seized various immovable properties, including land, fishing vessels, and oil tankers, as part of its investigations. The seizure notice for Ilham Tower was dated Dec 18, 2023, and published as an advertisement in several newspapers, including the New Straits Times, on Dec 21 the same year.

Lawyers for Daim's widow to challenge MACC's seizure of Ilham Tower in court

The Star

13 hours ago

Business
The Star

Lawyers for Daim's widow to challenge MACC's seizure of Ilham Tower in court

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers acting for the late Tun Daim Zainuddin's wife Na'imah Abdul Khalid will be challenging the seizure of Ilham Tower in court immediately. In a statement Thursday (June 5), lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal described the action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as contrary to the rule of law. ALSO READ: MACC seizes Ilham Tower again 'This is vindictive, unlawful, and a blatant abuse of power by the MACC. This is also the most ridiculous action yet taken by the MACC. 'The repeated seizure of Ilham Tower is pure harassment as it is yet another example of the MACC operating by the law of the jungle. 'In short, they want to keep seizing our client's property even though there's no evidence of corruption,' they said. The lawyers added that despite repeated allegations against Daim, no offence of corruption has been proven against Daim. ALSO READ: MACC gets nod to freeze assets of Daim's wife Earlier, the Deputy Public Prosecutor's office gave the MACC the go-ahead to seize Ilham Tower – owned by Daim's family – for a second time. MACC said it had since ordered the immediate seizure of the 60-storey skyscraper under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla). ALSO READ: Daim's Ilham Tower seized by MACC Ilham Tower was first seized by MACC in December 2023 in its anti-money laundering probe involving a corporate transaction of RM2.3bil (US$500mil) in November 1997 involving public-listed Renong Bhd and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM), both linked to Umno. On May 22, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said that eight investigation papers had been opened into the assets owned by Daim, his family and proxies, which had not been declared to the MACC during its initial 2023 investigation. On Wednesday (June 4), the High Court allowed an application by MACC to freeze assets worth £132mil in London allegedly linked to Na'imah and her family.

MACC seizes Ilham Tower again under AMLA provisions

The Sun

14 hours ago

Business
The Sun

MACC seizes Ilham Tower again under AMLA provisions

KUALA LUMPUR: Ilham Tower, located on Jalan Binjai and believed to be owned by the family of the late former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, has once again been seized, following an earlier seizure on Dec 18, 2023. In a statement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the latest action was carried out under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, via a notice dated June 4, 2025. 'Through the Notice of Seizure of Immovable Property, the seizure was authorised under powers granted to the Public Prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). 'The deputy public prosecutor was satisfied with information provided by an MACC officer linking the property to an offence under subsection 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001,' the statement read. As a result, the MACC investigating officer has been ordered to seize Ilham Tower. All transactions relating to the transfer of ownership of the property are now prohibited, and any failure to comply with the notice constitutes an offence under the same Act. On Dec 18, 2023, the 60-storey building was first seized by the MACC in connection with an alleged misappropriation of public funds exceeding RM2.3 billion. Last month, MACC initiated eight new investigation papers against the late Daim, following fresh intelligence regarding properties and assets allegedly linked to him, his family members and proxies. On Tuesday, the MACC succeeded in its application to freeze overseas assets belonging to Daim's wife, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid and her family, amounting to £132 million (RM758.2 million), which include seven properties and one bank account. The application was made under Section 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001 to prevent the dissipation of assets while investigations are ongoing.

Barnama

15 hours ago

Business
Barnama

MACC Seizes Ilham Tower Again Under AMLA Provisions

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- Ilham Tower, located on Jalan Binjai and believed to be owned by the family of the late former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, has once again been seized, following an earlier seizure on Dec 18, 2023. In a statement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said the latest action was carried out under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001, via a notice dated June 4, 2025. "Through the Notice of Seizure of Immovable Property, the seizure was authorised under powers granted to the Public Prosecutor under Section 376(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (Act 593). 'The deputy public prosecutor was satisfied with information provided by an MACC officer linking the property to an offence under subsection 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001,' the statement read. As a result, the MACC investigating officer has been ordered to seize Ilham Tower. All transactions relating to the transfer of ownership of the property are now prohibited, and any failure to comply with the notice constitutes an offence under the same Act. On Dec 18, 2023, the 60-storey building was first seized by the MACC in connection with an alleged misappropriation of public funds exceeding RM2.3 billion. Last month, MACC initiated eight new investigation papers against the late Daim, following fresh intelligence regarding properties and assets allegedly linked to him, his family members and proxies. On Tuesday, the MACC succeeded in its application to freeze overseas assets belonging to Daim's wife, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid and her family, amounting to £132 million (RM758.2 million), which include seven properties and one bank account. The application was made under Section 4(1) of the AMLATFPUAA 2001 to prevent the dissipation of assets while investigations are ongoing.