Three of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s children sought by the MACC are believed to be overseas.
Referencing Immigration Department records, director-general Zakaria Shaaban said the three individuals were detected to have left Malaysia in late January and earlier this month.
However, he declined to reveal further details on the matter, citing the anti-graft agency’s ongoing investigation linked to the trio.
“Yes, I can confirm that they have left Malaysia. Another (of Daim’s children) has no record of exiting the country, for now.
“The Immigration Department will channel the necessary information to the MACC based on our records,” Zakaria was quoted as saying by Harian Metro today.
Yesterday, the graft busters appealed for the public’s assistance to locate Daim’s four children - Asnida, Wira Dani, Amir Zainuddin, and Amin Zainuddin - to aid a case’s investigation.
The commission listed out their last-known personal addresses in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, and the contact information of investigating officers, should the public wish to relay information to the authorities.
‘Reckless and unjustified’
Following the MACC’s publication of their details, legal counsel for two of the children criticised the agency’s “reckless and unjustified” conduct, asserting that their clients have been in constant communication with the commission.
Lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh highlighted that notices were only served on their clients, Amir and Amin, on Feb 25 for them to attend an interview on March 11.
“Despite this, MACC has deemed it fit to jump the gun and issue this press release a mere two days after the notices were served.
“There is no basis for the public notice. It is a calculated move to give a false impression that our clients are running away or absconding from any investigation,” the legal representatives said in a statement yesterday.
They also claimed that the statement on Daim’s children was issued to divert public attention from calls seeking the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry to probe accusations against MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki and the commission itself.
While the MACC’s statement on Daim’s children did not specify the case for which the commission required their cooperation, the notice coincided with Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail’s announcement that police are investigating an attempt to destabilise the country.
According to Khalid, the plot involved an "influential individual" utilising international media outlets to mount pressure on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Azam.
The case is being investigated under Section 124B of the Penal Code after police received a report over the alleged conspiracy on Feb 26, with the report implicating a woman who allegedly held an online meeting in July last year to discuss the purported plan.
Daim's two children, two lawyers, and several representatives of an international strategic communications firm are also said to have attended the meeting.
Section 124B of the Penal Code criminalises activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy and carries a jail term of up to 20 years.
Na’imah issues denial
Daim’s wife, Na’imah Abdul Khalid, later denied any form of effort to topple the government, asserting that the content of the police report was “false and preposterous”.
In arguing that the timing of the police report points to a desperate attempt to distract the public from growing calls for Azam to be removed from his office, she pointed out that the report was lodged seven months after the alleged meeting and on the heels of one of the biggest scandals facing the Anwar-led government.
She also denied any suggestion of her involvement in the international news agency Bloomberg’s exposé implicating Azam as not only irresponsible but also an affront to the journalists concerned.
She added that by using enforcement agencies in politically charged circumstances, the government has only confirmed the main thrust of the Bloomberg report, which alleged the weaponisation of institutional powers. - Mkini
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