THERE is a campaign to portray Daim Zainuddin as being corrupt, his wife Naimah Khalid said today.

She said her husband is being targeted because he is wealthy.

“A campaign of disinformation and misperception is being relentlessly held to give the depiction that he is corrupt just because he is very wealthy,” she told reporters before entering the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters in Putrajaya for questioning.

She said Daim, a former finance minister, was already a successful man even before he became a member of the government in the 1980s.

“It’s public knowledge that Daim was a very successful businessman prior to joining the government in 1984. 

“He was already widely referred to in the media as a tycoon and multi-millionaire before taking public office 40 years ago,” she said.

Daim is being investigated by MACC over revelations regarding his wealth in the Pandora Papers.

The commission had said it had sent a notice to Daim last June to declare his assets but it remained unheeded despite five extensions.

Last month, MACC seized Ilham Tower, a high-commercial-value building owned by Daim and his family.

Daim had said he was facing a political witch hunt, a claim which anti-graft agency denies.

Yesterday, Daim’s family lawyers sent out a press notice stating that the MACC will be questioning his wife and two sons today. – January 10, 2024.