Wife says Daim Zainuddin ‘vindicated’ as she files police report against Malaysia PM Anwar

Daim’s wife filed a police report against Anwar and said he is targeting her husband as part of a ‘conspiracy’ against his political rivals

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86-year-old Daim Zainuddin, Malaysia’s former finance minister, arrives at a court in Kuala Lumpur on January 29 before being charged with failing to declare his assets. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 4:35pm, 30 Sep 2024

Claims by former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin that the graft probes into his wealth are politically motivated have been “vindicated”, his wife said on Monday, after she filed a police complaint against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Her comments follow a Bloomberg report accusing Anwar of using his influence to drive investigations into his political rivals, including Daim – a key power broker linked to Anwar’s nemesis, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking to the press on Monday after filing the police report, Daim’s wife, Naimah Khalid, said they now “want justice” and accused Anwar of being “consumed by his unending political vendetta” against her husband.

“This is a conspiracy to target political opponents by subverting the institutions of state and enforcement bodies, as is evident from the Bloomberg disclosures,” Naimah said outside the Petaling Jaya police station

The wife of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, Naimah Khalid, speaks to the media after a court session in Kuala Lumpur on January 23. Photo: EPA-EFE

Graft authorities have been scrutinising 86-year-old Daim since January, when he was charged with failing to comply with a notice to declare his assets. Naimah, who has also been charged, insisted there is nothing suspicious about their wealth.

Citing four sources, the Bloomberg report published on Thursday claimed Anwar had agreed to extend the tenure of Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki in return for carrying out a high-profile crackdown on former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, including on his family and inner circle.