PETALING JAYA: The investigation carried out against former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin is based on the existing law and information from the Pandora Papers, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
In a statement, the commission said it would like to correct the facts regarding the statement issued by Daim, which has caused unnecessary confusion and misunderstanding over the investigation on his case.
"First of all, the MACC has never at any point raised or issued any official statement accusing Daim of committing any offences.
ALSO READ : It’s a political witch-hunt, says Daim
"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 Saturday (Dec 30).
On Dec 28, 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.
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) was sent to Daim
It said that it had requested that a written and sworn statement be made by him to declare all his assets whether inside or outside the country within 30 days from the date the Notice was issued.
"Daim had applied for five extensions and he was granted the extensions on July 6, Aug 10, Sept 11, Oct 11 and the final one on Nov 14 this year to declare all of his assets," said the MACC.
ALSO READ : Daim’s Ilham Tower seized by MACC
As part of the investigation process, the public prosecutor had also issued a Notice of Seizure on Ilham Tower on Dec 18, under Section 38(1), MACC Act 2009 (Seizure of immovable property), noted the MACC.
Daim is also currently being probed under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, and Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Act 2001, added the body.
"However, based on the legal principle of “presumption of innocence”, anyone being investigated for any offences is innocent until proven guilty, and he has every opportunity to clear his name if the case is brought to the court of law.
"It has to be reiterated that the MACC is an independent Commission and acts in an objective and professional manner according to stipulated laws and regulations, in addition to being monitored by five independent oversight bodies.
"Therefore, the MACC urges all to restrain from speculating on the case and allow investigations to proceed without interference," the MACC further explained.
This comes after the MACC seized the 60-storey Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur last week.
