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Malaysia’s anti-corruption body probes ex-finance minister for abuse of power, money laundering: ‘political witch-hunt’
- Daim Zainuddin, 85, has denied all wrongdoing and said he was not informed what offence he had allegedly committed despite repeated queries to the body
- Daim held the finance portfolio between 1984 and 1991, when he was succeeded by PM Anwar; and from 1999 to 2001
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Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency said on Saturday it was investigating a former finance minister and key ally of ex-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad under the country’s abuse of power and money laundering laws.
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In a statement, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed media reports this month that it had seized Ilham Tower, a 60-storey building in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, as part of its investigation into Daim Zainuddin.
Daim, 85, on Thursday denied all wrongdoing and said he was not informed what offence he had allegedly committed despite repeated queries to the MACC.
He also described the probe against him as a “political witch-hunt” driven by the anti-corruption agency and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who came to power last year, has vowed to weed out high-level corruption, but has faced accusations by some critics of targeting political rivals.
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The MACC said on Saturday it had acted independently according to the law, and that it had opened investigations against Daim in February based on information contained in the Pandora Papers – a massive leak of financial records in 2021 which revealed offshore assets held by politicians and public figures worldwide.
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