KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has seized the Ilham Tower, a building owned by the family of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
The seizure notice of the 60-storey building was dated Dec 18, and was published as an advertisement on a local news portal today (Dec 21).
It was signed by MACC deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib and made under Section 38(1) of the MACC Act 2009, addressed to the Property Rights Registrar, Lands and Mines Office of the Federal Territories.
"Take notice that according to Section 38(5) of the MACC Act 2009, anyone that goes against this notice or carries out any actions against this notice has committed an offence that can be fined no more than twice the amount of the said value, or RM50,000, whichever is higher, and can be jailed for a period no longer than two years," the notice read.
The Ilham Tower is located in downtown Kuala Lumpur near the Petronas Twin Towers, and houses a four-star hotel, offices, and a gallery, among others.
According to a report by Channel NewsAsia (CNA), financial executives close to Daim mentioned that the former politician received an order from the MACC in late May. The directive required Daim to disclose his financial holdings and other assets belonging to his family members.
However, Daim reportedly rejected these demands.
During questioning by MACC officials, he insisted that he had no involvement in the Renong-UEM deal.
The corporate transaction involved UEM acquiring a 33 per cent interest in Renong.
Daim asserted that it was purely a business deal between companies, governed by their respective managements, boards of directors, and shareholders, financial executives close to him told CNA.
In May, it was reported that the MACC had opened several investigation papers against a "Tan Sri" business figure and a former senior minister in relation to the embezzlement of national funds worth more than RM2.3 billion.
Daim was one of at least 10 wealthy Malaysians named in the Pandora Papers, which shed light on offshore companies and trusts used to stash away fortunes and evade taxes.
The New StraitsTimes has reached out to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki for comment.