Former Malaysian Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin will be charged by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with at least one charge of failing to declare properties said to belong to him and his wife.

Hospital charges

According to the New Straits Times, the MACC has been given permission by the Attorney General's Department to prosecute Daim, who is a close ally of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

According to MalaysiaKini, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said that MACC had received permission to charge Daim one week ago.

But the anti-corruption body was unable to move froward with the charges as it was confirmed that Daim had been admitted to a private hospital.

MACC was unable to ascertain why Daim had been hospitalised, and discussions with Daim's doctors thus far proving inconclusive.

But the MACC chief revealed that it was able to bring a judge to the hospital where Daim was being treated in order for his charge to be read out.

Daim Zainuddin was Malaysia's finance minister from 1999 to 2001, under then-PM Mahathir.

Tower defence

Daim and has family have been subject to an MACC probe in recent months, with the MACC revealing in Dec. 2023 that it was probing Daim for alleged corruption and money laundering, according to Free Malaysia Today.

This was following the seizure of the 60-storey Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur.

According to the Malay Mail, on Jan. 10 Daim's wife Naimah Khalid came out to publicly declare that there was a smear campaign against Daim due to his success in business.

This was after she and her two sons with Daim were called upon by MACC to record statements.

Malay Mail also reported that Naimah was charged on Jan. 23 with failure to declare assets. She has pled not guilty.

The investigation of Daim comes at the same time as Mahathir's son Mirzan Mahathir is also being investigated by MACC, prompting the former PM to declare that the investigation involving his son and Daim was politically motivated.

According to Free Malaysia Today, Naimah has also made similar accusations, saying in a statement on Jan 23: "Power is brief and there is always a reckoning for those who abuse it", and describing the investigation and charges as "vengefully pursing old political rivals".

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Top image via Daim Zainuddin website & Wikipedia