KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has responded to claims made by Tun Daim Zainuddin that it deems have caused unnecessary confusion and misunderstanding in the ongoing investigation into his case.
In a statement today, the anti-graft body said that it would like to correct the facts raised in a statement issued by Tun Daim earlier.
"We would like to correct the facts regarding the statement issued by Daim, which has caused unnecessary confusion and misunderstanding over the investigation on his case.
"First of all, the MACC has never at any point raised or issued any official statement accusing him (Daim) of committing any offences.
"In his (Daim) case, the MACC opened an investigation paper in February 2023 based on information from the Pandora Papers," the commission said in a statement today.
MACC said as part of the investigation, June 7, a Notice under Section 36(1)(a) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (Act 694) was sent to Daim, requesting that a written and sworn statement be made by him to declare all his assets whether inside or outside the country within 30 days from the date the Notice was issued.
The commission said Daim had applied for five extensions and he was granted the extensions on July 6, Aug 10, Sept 11, Oct 11 and the last on Nov 14 to declare all his assets.
"As part of the investigation process, the public prosecutor had issued a Notice of Seizure on Ilham Tower on Dec 18, under Section 38(1), MACC Act 2009 (Seizure of immovable property)."
MACC said Daim is being investigated under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009, and Section 4 (1) Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).
"However, based on the legal principle of "presumption of innocence", anyone being investigated for any offences is innocent until proven guilty, and he has every opportunity to clear his name if the case is brought to the court of law.
The MACC also made it clear that it is acting as an independent body, subject to monitoring by five other independent oversight bodies.
"It has to be reiterated that the MACC is an independent Commission and acts in an objective and professional manner according to stipulated laws and regulations, in addition to being monitored by five independent oversight bodies.
"Therefore, the MACC urges all to restrain from speculating on the case and allow investigations to proceed without interference."
On Thursday (Dec 28), Daim in a statement labelled MACC's investigation against him and his family a "political witch hunt."
He said neither he nor his family had been involved in any corruption or wrongdoing, adding that his efforts to establish what offences he allegedly committed to warrant the probe had been rebuffed by the MACC.
Daim, who also headed the Council of Eminent Persons during Tun Dr Mahathir's time as prime minister under the Pakatan Harapan administration, said there has been an organised effort to discredit him by releasing misinformation and baseless insinuations against him.
In the statement, he also accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of interfering in the probe by making unsubstantiated insinuations against him.
He claimed that it was public knowledge that Anwar regarded him as a political threat and foe, leading to attempts to discredit him.
On Dec 23, the MACC confirmed that it is investigating Daim over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
The confirmation came about after the commission on Dec 18 seized 58-storey Ilham Tower, a commercial property in the Kuala Lumpur city centre reportedly owned by Daim's family.
Earlier in May, MACC said it was gathering information involving the alleged misappropriation of RM2.3 billion by a former minister and a businessman.