Daim's lawyer wants task force formed to probe Bloomberg report
Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan said a multi-agency task force is needed as the investigation could involve questioning Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was named in the Bloomberg report.
“Can an inspector actually question the prime minister...
A lawyer for former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and his wife Na’imah Abdul Khalid wants a task force formed to probe a media report the couple claims vindicates them of corruption charges.
Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan said a multi-agency task force is needed as the investigation could involve questioning Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was named in the Bloomberg report.
“Can an inspector actually question the prime minister? It’s highly unlikely.
“We want a multi-agency task force to be created to investigate this report. Something like what happened previously with the 1MDB scandal.
“Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) set up a multi-agency task force to investigate (1MDB) when Najib (Abdul Razak) was PM. If BNM can do it in 2015, I’m sure the police can do it in 2024,” he said.
Rajesh (above) was speaking to reporters outside the Sentul district police station in Kuala Lumpur.
Earlier, Na’imah spent about two hours at the police station recording a statement over her police report lodged yesterday.
She claimed the Bloomberg report showed Anwar abused his power in the criminal prosecution against her and Daim.
‘Cops waiting for instructions’
Speaking to reporters later, Na’imah said she was asked about 20 questions focusing on the purpose of her report, and that the police will also be recording a statement from Daim.
Asked whether the prime minister will be questioned as part of the ongoing investigations, Na’imah said, “I did ask them (police), after me, Daim, when will police record a statement from Anwar?
“They told me they are waiting for instructions,” she added.
The Bloomberg article cited anonymous sources claiming that Anwar had directed the agency to investigate Daim, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Mahathir’s sons.
The Sept 26 article also quoted unnamed sources alleging that in March, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki instructed his officers to avoid investigating Anwar’s former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak’s stock purchases, purportedly at the behest of the prime minister.
The Prime Minister’s Office and MACC have denied the claims.
Daim, 85, and Na’imah, 66, are facing criminal charges in court for alleged failure to abide by MACC notices for the couple to disclose their assets.
