Naimah Khalid has submitted a formal complaint to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), urging it to investigate allegations and concerns related to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
She handed over the memorandum to Suhakam chairman Hishamudin Yunus at the commission’s headquarters today, saying what is “at stake goes beyond my family”.
“It is about the integrity of our institutions, the rule of law, and the rights of every Malaysian.
“The rule of law means nothing if enforcement agencies are placed above it. Without accountability, power becomes persecution, not protection.
“No citizen should feel that justice depends on political favour, or that state power can be used without oversight,” the widow of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin said in a statement.
The complaint calls on Suhakam to investigate allegations of political interference by the PMO in MACC’s operational decisions and assess the AGC’s handling of Naimah’s earlier police report, among others.
On Aug 21, the High Court granted Naimah leave to refer several constitutional questions to the Federal Court in relation to the validity of her asset declaration charge, to which she claimed trial in January.
She was accused of failing to comply with the terms of an asset declaration notice issued by MACC.
In June, Naimah’s lawyers expressed disappointment with the AGC’s move to classify her police report against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki as requiring no further action.
The report, filed last September, was related to a Bloomberg article on MACC’s investigations into Daim before his death on Nov 13.
In the report, Naimah said the article showed that the charges against her and Daim were a conspiracy to target Anwar‘s political opponents by “subverting the institutions of state and enforcement bodies”.
Daim was charged in January last year with failing to declare assets to MACC, including interests in 38 companies, 19 plots of land in five states, six properties, two unit trust accounts, and seven luxury vehicles.
After his death last November, the prosecution withdrew the charges and the court granted an order discharging and acquitting him.
However, the anti-graft agency said that investigations under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act would proceed.
Naimah was accused of failing to declare her ownership in various companies, several plots of land in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and two vehicles.
