KUALA LUMPUR (June 3): The High Court on Tuesday granted the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) request to freeze £132 million (RM758.2 million) worth of assets in London, allegedly owned by Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid, wife of the late Tun Daim Zainuddin.
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid granted the ex-parte order (without the other party present), based on the MACC’s application, made under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activity Act 2001.
The frozen assets include two commercial buildings, five luxury residences and one bank account — totalling £132 million.
The bank account is said to be registered to the Ilham Foundation. Na’imah is chair of the foundation, a non-profit focused on charity, arts, culture and education.
MACC deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, when contacted by The Edge, confirmed Tuesday's outcome.
The properties are said to have been acquired between 2013 and 2021.
The court order will now be sent to UK authorities for enforcement.
Prior to this, MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission was considering seizing over RM2 billion in undeclared assets linked to the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, his family and proxies. He said eight investigation papers had been opened based on new information from foreign agencies, with the MACC currently working with authorities in Switzerland and the UK.
According to Azam, these assets were not disclosed during investigations in 2023.
However, Daim’s family and lawyers have strongly criticised the move.
Lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh, representing Na’imah and her family, labelled the move "political" and "legally baseless", arguing that Daim was never charged or convicted, and that the MACC has no grounds to seize his estate.
They questioned whether the MACC had consulted the attorney general or sought proper legal advice before making such claims.