Former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin – who is subject of an anti-graft probe – has come out to attack Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, accusing the latter of initiating a “political witch-hunt” against him and warning that he will take “appropriate action in due course”.
Daim also chastised the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki for unprofessional conduct, such as making “various prejudicial comments against me in public whilst the investigation is still ongoing” as well as being allegedly “responsible for a slew of ‘source’ news leaks on the purported investigation”.
Breaking his silence in a media statement issued on Thursday (Dec 28), Daim claimed that he was being made a target because Mr Anwar “regards me as a political threat and foe who must be discredited”.
He alleged that Mr Anwar’s “latest tirade” against him on Dec 22 “is a reckless and an unsubstantiated insinuation that I am guilty of some unspecified offences”.
“This amply shows his animus against me. It is also highly inappropriate and an abuse of power for a Prime Minister to interfere or influence an ongoing investigation by making blatant public insinuations of guilt. I have consulted my lawyers on this and will take the appropriate action in due course,” said Mr Daim.
On Dec 22 Prime Minister Anwar told reporters: “It is an open secret. Someone had reaped so much wealth. Let there be a probe.” when asked about the Ilham Tower seizure.
On the allegations against him, Daim claimed that he had extended the fullest cooperation to the MACC and communicated with the agency through his lawyers “since the beginning of this investigation”.
“As such it is patently false for the MACC ‘sources’ to claim that I have not made a proper disclosure of the financial details demanded by MACC,” he said.
He further alleged that as a former senior member of the Malaysian government, he had “kept silent” on the issue “out of respect for the investigative process”.
“However, the Prime Minister and MACC have not shown the same respect for the process with their continuing uncalled-for comments and statements leaving me with no choice but to respond in order to protect my reputation and good name.”
He further claimed: “I am deeply concerned about the fairness and integrity of our institutions …In remembering the oath of office they both swore to uphold, Anwar Ibrahim and Azam Baki must respect the rule of law and due process and act accordingly.”
The seizure on Dec 21 of the Ilham Tower, which was built at the cost of US$580 million and located in a cluster of exclusive high-rise residential and commercial complexes around the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, came after Daim snubbed repeated petitions from the MACC to officially declared his assets in an investigation that began in late May.
