logo
Lawyers question NFA on Naimah's police report over Bloomberg article

Lawyers question NFA on Naimah's police report over Bloomberg article

Daily Express23-06-2025
Published on: Monday, June 23, 2025
Published on: Mon, Jun 23, 2025
By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Naimah Khalid filed a police report last September over a Bloomberg article on MACC's investigations into her late husband Daim Zainuddin. PETALING JAYA: Lawyers for Naimah Khalid, the widow of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, have expressed disappointment with the move to classify her police report against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki as requiring no further action (NFA). The report, filed last September, was related to a Bloomberg article concerning MACC's investigations into Daim before his death on November 13. Lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal said they received a letter dated June 21 informing them that the case had been classified as NFA. 'The decision is unacceptable, outrageous and contrary to good governance and the rule of law,' they said in a statement today. They also noted that the NFA decision came shortly after Naimah filed a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Commission over what she viewed as delays in investigating her original report. 'No details have been given of who was questioned, what steps were taken, or the reasons for the NFA,' they said.
Advertisement They also said that the case was closed 'quietly' despite its public interest value. 'This decision reflects badly on the police and Attorney-General's Chambers, and confirms the erosion of institutional independence under the Madani administration. 'We will not be silenced or deflected from our pursuit of justice. Malaysians deserve institutions that serve the public, not those in power,' they said. Citing sources, Bloomberg reported that Azam had told agency officials that instructions to investigate Daim, as well as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his sons, came from Anwar himself. Naimah said the Bloomberg report showed that the charges against her and Daim were a conspiracy to target Anwar's political opponents by 'subverting the institutions of state and enforcement bodies'. Both the Prime Minister's Office and MACC have denied the claims in the Bloomberg report. Daim was charged in January last year with failing to declare assets to MACC, including interests in 38 companies, 19 land plots in five states, six properties, two unit trust accounts, and seven luxury vehicles. After his death last November, the prosecution withdrew the charges and the court granted an order discharging and acquitting him. However, the anti-graft agency said that investigations under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act would proceed. Naimah, who also faces an asset declaration charge, is accused of failing to declare her ownership in various companies, several plots of land in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and two vehicles. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Syrian committee reports 1,426 killed in March violence, says commanders did not order it
Syrian committee reports 1,426 killed in March violence, says commanders did not order it

The Star

timean hour ago

  • The Star

Syrian committee reports 1,426 killed in March violence, says commanders did not order it

BEIRUT (Reuters) -A Syrian fact-finding committee said on Tuesday that 1,426 people had died in March in attacks on security forces and subsequent mass killings of Alawites, but concluded that commanders had not given orders for the revenge attacks. The incidents in the coastal region were the worst violence to hit Syria since the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad last year. The fact-finding committee's work is seen as an important test of the new leadership, made up mainly of former anti-Assad rebel fighters, who are facing new unrest this month involving other minority groups in the southwest. The committee concluded that Syrian commanders did not give orders to commit violations and in fact gave orders to halt them. It came up with a list of 298 suspects involved in violations against Alawites and 265 involved in the initial attack on security forces, committee head Jumaa Al-Anzi said. The names are not being released publicly for now and have been referred to courts for further investigations, spokesperson Yasser Farhan said. He added that 31 people who committed violations against civilians had been arrested, as well as six people he referred to as "remnants" of the former regime. A Reuters investigation last month identified 1,479 Syrian Alawites killed and dozens who were missing from 40 distinct sites of revenge killings, and found a chain of command leading from the attackers directly to men who serve alongside Syria's new leaders in Damascus. Syria's new leadership, which has roots in the insurgency led by Sunni Muslim Islamist groups against Assad, a member of the Alawite minority sect, has long sought to reassure minorities that they will be safe. Safety of minorities has become a major issue again this month with hundreds of people killed in clashes between government security forces, Sunni Bedouin fighters and militants from the Druze sect in the southern province of Sweida. The authorities have set up a new fact-finding committee in response. 'WIDESPREAD BUT NOT ORGANISED' The violence in March began on March 6 with attacks on Syrian security forces stationed in the region. It put hospitals and other state institutions out of operation and caused wide areas to fall out of government control, Farhan said. The committee found that 238 members of the security forces were killed in these attacks, perpetrated by forces aligned with the former Assad government, Farhan said. In response, around 200,000 armed men mobilized from across Syria, pouring into the coastal region, he said. This led to violations including killings, theft and sectarian incitement that the committee found were "widespread but not organised," Farhan said. Farhan said the committee members had full cooperation from government forces as they undertook their months of work, and it was now up to President Ahmed al-Sharaa whether to release their report in full. Diana Semaan, Syria researcher at Amnesty International, called for the full findings to be released and for perpetrators to face prosecution. "In terms of the fact-finding committee, acknowledging that atrocities against Alawite civilians happened is an important step towards justice," she told Reuters. "[But] without the proper prosecution of perpetrators, then we have impunity. It won't be the justice and accountability that the victims deserve." (Reporting by Khalil Ashawi in Damascus and Maya Gebeily, Timour Azhari and Laila Bassam in Beirut; Writing by Tala RamadanEditing by Andrew Heavens and Peter Graff)

Ukrainian PM claims corruption problem overemphasized
Ukrainian PM claims corruption problem overemphasized

Malaysia Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Malaysia Sun

Ukrainian PM claims corruption problem overemphasized

Yulia Sviridenko has dismissed concerns about widespread graft amid a clampdown on oversight agencies New Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko sought to downplay longstanding concerns about corruption in the country in an interview with Bloomberg published on Tuesday. An escalating clampdown on independent anti-graft agencies has drawn international scrutiny. Sviridenko cited recent polling data suggesting that while most Ukrainians believe corruption is widespread, far fewer report encountering it directly. "To be frank, within Ukrainian society and certain social groups, the issue is being amplified and overemphasized," Sviridenko claimed in the interview, without elaborating. On Monday, Ukrainian security officials raided the offices of the country's independent anti-corruption agency, the NABU, arresting two investigators. Established in 2015 as part of judicial reforms aimed at aligning Ukraine with Western standards, the NABU has long been seen as one of the country's few credible anti-corruption institutions. The raids have sparked "serious concerns" from the ambassadors of the Group of Seven - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and US - who said the issue would be formally raised with the Ukrainian leadership. On Tuesday, lawmakers added to the concerns by approving draft legislation that would place the NABU and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) under the authority of the general prosecutor, who is appointed by the president. Bloomberg described the bill as one that could "potentially cripple efforts to tackle high-level graft." Reuters cited a Western diplomat calling the developments "the most dangerous moment yet" for Ukraine's anti-graft institutions. Kiev, the diplomat said, was "testing the limits" of its Western allies "more and more." The European Commission also voiced alarm, emphasizing that the agencies must "operate independently public trust." Brussels has long identified corruption as a major obstacle to Kiev's EU membership ambitions. Ukraine has developed a reputation for endemic corruption, a problem that has worsened since the escalation of conflict with Russia in 2022, as the defense sector has been rocked by procurement scandals and donors have demanded greater transparency. In April, US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz called for tighter oversight of US financial aid, describing Ukraine as "one of the most corrupt nations in the world." (

Kelantan cops stand firm, gay gathering raid not linked to health programme
Kelantan cops stand firm, gay gathering raid not linked to health programme

New Straits Times

time3 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Kelantan cops stand firm, gay gathering raid not linked to health programme

KOTA BARU: Kelantan police have stood by their earlier statement that the gathering in Kemumin here, which was raided last month, was not related to any health programme but was instead a social event involving members of the gay community. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said that, based on intelligence gathering and public interviews, the Kelantan Police Task Force found that invitations to the gathering had been sent through specific WhatsApp groups. "Investigations showed that the invitations to the programme did not mention any involvement or organisation by official bodies such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), health clinics, or the Health Ministry. "There was also no information indicating that the programme had received approval or was being monitored by any authorised party," Yusoff said in a statement late last night. On the day of the raid, Yusoff said the police Task Force had been monitoring the venue since 5pm, as the event was scheduled to take place between 8pm and 11pm, according to the invitation. He added that at around 8pm, the number of attendees had increased to about 100 people, who were observed dining and engaging in casual conversation. "By around 11pm, the majority of attendees had left the premises. The raiding team took precautionary measures and only conducted the operation at around 1am to ensure it proceeded smoothly without posing any risk to public safety. "During the raid, police found 20 men at the premises, and they admitted to being part of the gay community. "It was also established during the raid that no representatives from NGOs or any government health agencies, including the Health Ministry, were present." He added that documentation conducted on the 20 men revealed that 18 were from Kelantan, one from Perak, and one from Besut, Terengganu, who is a student at a higher learning institution in Kelantan. "Checks on their mobile phones revealed that three of them possessed pornographic videos involving same-sex activities. Some also admitted to having engaged in same-sex activities. "Police also found hundreds of condoms and several boxes of HIV medication in one of the rooms," he said. Yusoff stressed that police action was based solely on verified intelligence and lawful evidence, with no intent of discrimination. "Our responsibility is to maintain public order and safeguard the moral values of society. I hope this explanation will dispel confusion and speculation circulating online. "The public is urged not to spread unverified information and to continue cooperating with the authorities to preserve harmony in the state," he said. It was reported that three men, including two students from tertiary education institutions, were fined a total of RM11,000 by the magistrate's court on Sunday for possessing obscene images and videos. The trio was among those arrested by police during the raid at a house in Kemumin last month.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store