THE widow of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid, has been granted permission by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to intervene in a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) application concerning her overseas assets, valued at over RM1.1 billion.
The offshore assets involve four companies registered in Jersey, a British Crown dependency, with a combined value of US$157.5 million (approximately RM667 million) and an additional £85 million (RM490.7 million).
Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin allowed Na’imah’s application after determining that she had a direct interest in being named as a respondent, as the MACC’s application relates to her property and ownership.
The MACC had previously filed the application ex parte to prevent Na’imah or any related parties from managing the assets, which are alleged to have been acquired in Malaysia and not declared to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).
Na’imah applied to intervene under Section 53 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001.
In his ruling, Justice Muhammad Jamil said that an application under Section 53 of AMLATFPUAA cannot be filed ex parte without naming affected parties, as it directly impacts ownership rights.
He added that, in accordance with the principles of natural justice, an applicant should be given the opportunity to be heard before the court makes any decision affecting them.
“The applicant shows a clear interest in this application, and based on legal considerations, she has the right to intervene and be heard. Therefore, her application to intervene is allowed,” he said.
The court has set 12 January next year for the case to be mentioned again.
Na’imah is represented by lawyers Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar and Abraham Au Tian Hui, while the prosecution is represented by Mahadi Abdul Jumaat.
The MACC filed the ex parte application on 25 June to prevent Na’imah or any related parties from managing the offshore assets, alleging that they were acquired in Malaysia and not declared to the LHDN.
The application was made under Section 53 of AMLATFPUAA 2001, following investigations under Section 113 of the Income Tax Act and Section 4(1) of AMLATFPUAA.
This is the third application filed by the prosecution, following two earlier applications concerning assets in the United Kingdom and Singapore.
On 22 May, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki revealed that eight investigation papers had been opened based on new information from foreign agencies concerning assets owned by the late Tun Daim, his family, and proxies. He said the latest information indicates that the assets were not declared during the 2023 MACC investigation. - November 13, 2025
