KUALA LUMPUR: A wheelchair bound Tun Dr Daim Zainuddin said he would go all out to fight charges thrown at him, while at the same time accusing the government of using institutions like the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC), Attorney General's Chambers (AG-C) and the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to go against its political opponents.
The frail looking 85-year old said he was not guilty looked forward to his day in court before going on to voice his opinion of what was going on in the country.
"I don't want to say much about the charges against me.
"However, I want to comment about the state of our country. Like many others who wanted a new Malaysia, I had come out to support Pakatan Harapan and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2018.
"Then, the nation was under the shadow of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
"But now, we are under the shadow of an administration that is abusing its powers, while betraying all the promises of reform....a wolf in sheep's clothing who cries reforms, but does the polar opposite."
Daim continued his tirade by accusing Anwar of appointing a person who was facing corruption charges as the deputy prime minister just so he (Anwar) could become prime minister.
While obviously referring to Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Daim said all 47 charges against the deputy prime minister were soon dropped.
"Is this the new Malaysia that was promised? Honesty, integrity and good governance have gone out the window.
"Independent institutions like the MACC, AGC and IRB have been made pliable tools to pursue political opponents," he said.
Daim attempted to read out the statement and then stopped halfway through as his wife, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid interjected as her husband was struggling, and explained that they had to rush home.
"I'm sorry, we have been here since morning, we have to rush home," she said, explaining her husband's condition.
Passing the statement to his counsel, M Peruvalan, he also refused to read out the statement and disseminated it to the media instead.
Earlier today, Daim was charged at the Sessions Court with failure to declare 71 of his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Also Read: [BREAKING] List of all 71 of Daim's assets
The former finance minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence before Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi today.
According to the charge sheet, the 85-year-old failed to comply with a MACC notice to declare his assets such as one bank account, seven luxury vehicles, 38 companies, and 25 properties at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Dec 13, last year.
The offence falls under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act which carries a maximum five years' imprisonment and RM100,000 fine upon conviction.