Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin files lawsuit against MACC chief Azam Baki

PETALING JAYA: Former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin has filed a lawsuit against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki.

According to Azam, Daim has filed for an injunction against him, adding that he is now able to tell the public since the case has entered the courts.

“In order to tell someone to declare their assets, the chief commissioner must give his approval, and I signed almost all of the declaration of assets (documents) to compel (them to declare), which is why I value information.

“In this case, it is the commissioner who will get sued, and I am actually being sued by Tun Daim.

“Tun Daim is suing me because, to him, the act of the chief commissioner was wrong.

“But, I can talk about this now that it is in the court and he has filed an injunction. So, we have to fight for that,” he said during an interview with TVS on Thursday (Feb 15).

Azam had earlier spoken about the mechanism for compelling a person to declare his assets, saying that the MACC will look into improving its methods.

On Thursday (Feb 8), MACC said it might summon Daim again for questioning on suspicion of more undeclared assets.

Azam was quoted as saying that investigators had recently received information about Daim’s alleged assets and were now in the midst of verifying it.

Daim’s lawyers, however, said Azam’s remarks were highly prejudicial to their client’s constitutional right to a fair trial, describing the act as “unwarranted and smacks of sub judice”.

On Jan 29, Daim was charged with failing to declare his assets to MACC.

The 85-year-old was charged under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009 and faces imprisonment of up to five years and a fine not exceeding RM100,000, if convicted.

On Jan 23, Daim’s wife, Toh Puan Na’imah Khalid claimed trial in the Sessions Court on a charge of failing to comply with a MACC notice requiring the declaration of assets.

She was accused of failing to declare her ownership of companies, several plots of land in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, as well as two vehicles.