Daim’s family, lawyers file suit to block ‘topple govt’ probe

2026-03-06 - 10:43

Daim Zainuddin’s widow Naimah Khalid and lawyer Nizamuddin Hamid speaking to the media on Wednesday. The other plaintiffs in the suit are two of Daim’s sons and a second lawyer. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: Three family members of the late former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and their lawyers have filed a suit against the government to halt a police investigation into an alleged plot to topple the administration. Lawyers Rajesh Nagarajan and Sachpreetraj Singh, representing the five plaintiffs, said the originating summons was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, naming the prime minister, the inspector-general of police (IGP) and the government as defendants. “It is public knowledge that the so-called probe is being made against the widow of Daim, her sons and two of her lawyers,” they said in a statement. The plaintiffs in the suit are Daim’s widow Naimah Khalid, their sons Amir and Amin, and lawyers Amir Zharif Abdullah and Nizamuddin Hamid. They are seeking, among other relief, a declaration that the investigation by the IGP and the government under Section 124B of the Penal Code is unlawful, unconstitutional, tainted with bad faith, carried out with ulterior purposes, and an abuse of statutory power. “This suit was filed in the public interest, in order to challenge abuse of power and to put a stop to the false claims of a ‘Zionist plot’ to overthrow the government, now being peddled to the Malaysian public,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers said. On Feb 27, IGP Khalid Ismail said Bukit Aman had opened an investigation into allegations of an attempt to overthrow the government and threaten national stability, based on a police report lodged the previous day. According to him, Bukit Aman’s classified crimes unit is investigating allegations that an influential local figure was working in collaboration with an international media agency in that regard. On the same day, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said it was tracking down four of Daim’s children – his daughter Asnida, Amir, Amin and another son, Wira Dani – but without further details. MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki later said only one of the four had contacted the agency, but did not disclose who. On Wednesday, Nizamuddin, speaking for Naimah, rubbished claims that she was attempting to topple the government, describing it as “the mother of all lies”. He also confirmed that he and Amir Zharif, his law firm partner, were named in a police report as having attended a meeting with Naimah, but denied the existence of any plot to overthrow the government. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the alleged plot is believed to be driven by large-scale corruption investigations conducted by MACC and involved “Zionists”, foreign lobbyist groups, bankers, and international media agencies.