Daim and family fail bid to challenge MACC probe

PUTRAJAYA: Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and his family Thursday failed in their bid to challenge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe into their financial affairs.

A three-member panel comprising Court of Appeal judges Datuk Azizah Nawawi, Datuk Hashim Hamzah, and Datuk Azizul Azmi Adnan unanimously dismissed their appeal to obtain leave to commence a judicial review on the ground that the criminal investigations are not amenable to judicial review.

“Therefore, the court dismisses the appellants’ appeal with no order as to costs,” said Justice Azizah.

On March 4, the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected Daim and his family’s application for leave for a judicial review, stating that they failed to establish mala fide elements against the MACC officer who conducted the investigation.

Daim, 85, his wife Toh Puan Nai’mah Abdul Khalid, 66, and their four children – Asnida, 62, Md Wira Dani, 45, Muhammed Amir Zainuddin, 28, and Muhammed Amin Zainuddin, 25 – and Ilham Tower Sdn Bhd filed the judicial review application on Jan 10, naming MACC and the public prosecutor as respondents.

Justice Azizah when delivering the ruling said the actions and decisions of public authority in exercising its power in the court of criminal investigation are not open for judicial review.