KUALA LUMPUR: Former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin's wife said there was no truth in the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner's statement that her husband had been informed of his pending charges and that he had been hospitalised to evade being dragged to court.
Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid said Tan Sri Azam Baki's statement that her husband also could not be charged earlier due to his hospitalisation was also not true.
"I refer to a statement by MACC Chief Azam Baki today that they had informed our legal counsel a week ago that my husband Daim was to be charged, and that this could not be done because of the hospitalisation.
"There is no truth to this statement by Azam Baki. I can confirm that neither myself nor our legal counsel was ever informed that Daim would be charged for any offence.
"We were only told that a statement was to be recorded from him," she said in a statement.
Na'imah said she only discovered that Daim was to be charged after reading news reports about the matter.
"Hence, the insinuations made by Azam Baki that Daim is somehow evading being charged by getting hospitalised is false and mischievous.
"Particularly offensive are his disparaging remarks against the dedicated and professional doctors of this hospital," she said, adding her husband was prepared to face any charge.
"He is ready to face charges anywhere, and will vigorously defend himself in accordance with the law.
"He has been warded and is undergoing treatment. Subject to the permission of the hospital and medical team, Daim is prepared to face this political charge in the hospital itself.
"We will leave this to Azam and the MACC to decide," she said.
Na'imah, 67 was responding to a statement by Azam that Daim was supposed to have been brought to court on charges under the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.
However, he said, the prosecution against Daim had been postponed by the MACC as Daim is undergoing treatment at a private hospital for undisclosed health issues.
He also expressed disappointment with the doctor treating Daim, who he said failed to inform MACC investigators why the former minister is considered unable to attend court.
Na'imah herself was yesterday charged with failure to declare her assets to the (MACC).
She has claimed trial to the offence under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act which carries a maximum of five years imprisonment and a RM100,000 fine upon conviction.