TOH PUAN Na’imah Abdul Khalid today dismissed reports that MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had informed Tun Daim Zainuddin’s legal counsel a week ago that he was to be charged, and that this could not be done because he was hospitalised.
“There is no truth to this statement by Azam Baki.
“I can confirm that neither myself nor our legal counsel were ever informed that Daim would be charged for any offence.
“We were only told that a statement was to be recorded from him and only today, reading news reports, have I discovered that Daim is to be charged,” she said in a statement.
It was earlier reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had been given the green light to charge Daim but could not proceed as he was hospitalised.
Azam said the MACC had wanted to bring the 84-year-old former finance minister’s case to court since last week following consent obtained from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
According to reports, Azam said his officers had communicated with Daim’s lawyers soon after getting the go-ahead to charge him.
“However, we were informed at the last minute that he was hospitalised,” said Azam.
According to Na’imah, the insinuations made by Azam Baki that Daim is somehow evading being charged by getting hospitalised is false and mischievous. “Particularly offensive are his disparaging remarks against the dedicated and professional doctors of this hospital.
“Let me state unequivocally that Daim is prepared to face any charge, anywhere, and will vigorously defend himself in accordance with the law,” she said.
She said her husband was warded and is undergoing treatment.
“Subject to the permission of the hospital and medical team, Daim is prepared to face this political charge in the hospital itself.
“We will leave this to Azam and the MACC to decide,” she added. – The Vibes, January 24, 2024
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