In an announcement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed media reports earlier this month that it had seized Ilham Tower, a 60-story constructing in Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, as a part of its investigation into Daim Zainuddin.
Daim, 85, on Thursday denied all allegations and said he had not been informed what crime he had allegedly committed, despite repeated inquiries to the MACC.
Former Malaysian minister Daim slams Prime Minister Anwar for ‘political witch hunt’ over investigation
Former Malaysian minister Daim slams Prime Minister Anwar for ‘political witch hunt’ over investigation
Anwar, who got here to power last 12 months, has vowed to root out high-level corruption, but some critics have accused him of attacking political rivals.
It reported that Daim, his associates and members of the family had assets value no less than 25 million yen ($31.82 million).
MACC said that in June it asked Daim to declare his assets and granted the previous minister five deferrals on that date – November 14 at the most recent.
He added that he “has every opportunity to clear his name if the case goes to court.”
Daim served as CFO twice: from 1984 to 1991, when he was succeeded by Anwar; and from 1999 to 2001, after Anwar was fired by then-Prime Minister Mahathir for alleged corruption and sodomy.
Although Daim has retired from lively politics, he stays an influential figure.
In 2018, when Mahathir retired and returned as prime minister, he appointed Daim as chairman of a government advisory board tasked with scrutinizing every thing from government policy to the management of state-linked firms.
