'Campaign of misperception' being spread, says Daim's wife Naimah Khalid

PUTRAJAYA: A "campaign of misinformation and misperception" is being spread, says Tun Daim Zainuddin's wife Toh Puan Naimah Khalid.

"A campaign of misinformation and misperception is being spread suggesting that my husband is wealthy and therefore corrupt.

“There is no sense of logic in this and no successful businessman in the country will be saved from such an insinuation. Such accusations do not easily go away once in the public domain,” she told reporters before entering MACC headquarters here on Wednesday (Jan 10).

Naimah said that even though the family questions the motive of the investigation, they have extended cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as required by law.

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She said it is public knowledge that Daim was a successful businessman prior to joining the government in 1984.

“He (Daim) was already widely known as a tycoon and a multimillionaire before taking office 40 years ago.

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Naimah then said that the office of the Prime Minister, should never be used to besmirch the reputation of individuals by insinuation and thinly-veiled accusations of wrongdoing to be used to settle “old political scores”.

“Today it is my family, tomorrow who knows who will be victimised,” she said.

Naimah said that she had received a call on Monday (Jan 8) requesting her to be present the next day for questioning.

“However, I asked (for) another date due to the short notice,” she said.

ALSO READ: MACC: Investigation on Daim Zainuddin based on law, Pandora Papers information

Last month, the MACC seized the family-owned Ilham Tower as part of its investigations.

The MACC previously said investigations carried out against the former finance minister are based on the existing law and information from the Pandora Papers.

"In the case of Daim, the MACC opened an investigation paper in February 2023 based on information from the Pandora Papers," said the MACC in a statement on Dec 30.

It further said that the authority has never at any point raised or issued any official statement accusing Daim of committing any offence.

The anti-graft body explained that as part of the investigation, a notice was issued on June 7, under Section 36(1)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694) which was sent to Daim.

Following the seizure of the tower, Daim hit out at the MACC investigations on him and his family, claiming that it is nothing short of a political witch-hunt due to the "animus" of the Prime Minister.