'Don't credit me': Daim's widow laughs off claim of sabotaging govt through Bloomberg

The widow of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin has dismissed a new claim in a police report accusing her of being involved in a conspiracy to topple the government by using Bloomberg, the financial news outlet which recently published explosive reports on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Azam Baki.

Na'imah Abdul Khalid said the claims were not only "false and preposterous", but also a disservice to the Bloomberg journalists who worked hard to uncover the twin scandals of Azam's share ownership and his alleged links to corporate mafia, as reported recently.

"While I am flattered by the claim that I was behind the investigative report by Bloomberg, I do not wish to take credit away from those who truly put their journalistic skills and talents to work to uncover the shocking allegations surrounding the MACC chief," said Na'imah.

"Therefore, any attempt to suggest that I am behind the reporting is not only irresponsible, but also an insult to the journalists concerned."

She recalled that the latest accusation reminded her of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's past attempts to seize power by claiming he had "formidable numbers".

"Unlike him, at no time did I engage in, contemplate, or support any effort to destabilise or topple an elected government."

Inspector-General of Police Mohd Khalid Ismail said today that an investigation has been launched into an international media agency and an "influential person" for alleged attempts to topple the government.

The investigation is based on a police report believed to have been filed by a former journalist whom Na'imah said she once hired as part of her communications team.

Na'imah questioned the timing of the police report, some seven months after he was dismissed for poor job performance.

"After his termination, he had attempted to make further monetary demands. Clearly, this is the conduct of a disgruntled man," she said.

She said the latest action against her reeks of efforts by Anwar to distract from growing calls to remove Azam from MACC in the wake of the revelations by Bloomberg.

"By using enforcement agencies in politically charged circumstances, the government has only confirmed the main thrust of the Bloomberg report: that institutional powers are being weaponised," she added.

Na'imah also said it was her right to defend herself by seeking public relations advice when faced with the "unbridled powers of an agency led by a scandal-tainted individual who has the continued full backing of the prime minister".

"Furthermore, how does one topple a government with the help of international media, or for that matter, a public relations firm? If that were the case, countless Malaysian governments in the past would have been replaced all the time," said Na'imah.

On Feb 12, Bloomberg published its investigative report on Azam, interviewing witnesses and victims of individuals known as the "corporate mafia", whom it said were working in cahoots with MACC officers to forcefully take over ownership of public-listed companies.

The report followed an earlier revelation that Azam held millions of shares worth approximately RM800,000 in a listed company, in violation of a government circular prohibiting public servants from such holdings.

Amid protests, Anwar has strongly defended Azam, whose tenure as MACC chief he has extended three times since coming to power.