The High Court has set Sept 18 to hear Naimah Khalid’s bid to commence judicial review proceedings to challenge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) second seizure of Ilham Tower.
The hearing, scheduled for today, was postponed after senior federal counsel Nurhafizza Azizan informed Justice Amarjeet Singh that the attorney-general intended to object to the leave application.
Naimah, the widow of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, was represented by senior lawyer Gurdial Singh Nijar.
She is seeking to quash MACC’s June 5 seizure notice, alleging that it constitutes an abuse of process, and accusing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of exerting undue influence over the matter.
Her legal team previously described the second seizure – undertaken under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) – as “pure harassment”, noting that MACC had already seized the building in December 2023.
Ilham Tower, owned by Daim’s family, was initially seized under Section 38(1) of the MACC Act 2009.
According to MACC, the deputy public prosecutor granted authorisation for the second seizure after concluding that it was linked to alleged offences under Section 4(1) of Amla – specifically, transactions designed to avoid reporting requirements.
Naimah’s action names several respondents including MACC investigating officer Rahi Rahhim @ Rahim, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, MACC, and Anwar.
