Warrants Issued for Daim Zainuddin's Sons

A court in Kuala Lumpur has issued arrest warrants for three individuals, including the sons of the late finance minister Daim Zainuddin, after they failed to respond to multiple requests from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The individuals involved are 31-year-old Muhammed Amir Zainuddin, 28-year-old Muhammed Amin Zainuddin, and businesswoman Josephine Premla. The warrants were approved by Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan upon realizing that all three had prior knowledge of the notices but opted not to attend for questioning.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat detailed that the MACC issued several notices under Section 30 of their Act, which mandated the accused's appearance for investigation. The first notice, issued on February 13, 2026, required their presence the following day. While the court recognized the short notice period, it observed that the accused had been informed about the investigation via their lawyer shortly after the notice was issued.

An extension was then granted, with March 11, 2026, set as a new date for compliance, providing nearly three weeks' notice. However, defense correspondence on March 9 indicated that the individuals would not attend, suggesting March 30 as an alternative date.

Despite the MACC accommodating this request, a final extension to April 6, 2026, was subsequently issued, but once again, the three failed to appear. Their legal counsel sent a letter on April 4 expressing their inability to attend and asking for another postponement until July 2026.

The court concluded that the continual delays and lack of cooperation warranted the issuance of arrest warrants. Magistrate Khalizan noted that the prosecution’s point had merit, highlighting that the individuals had been adequately informed and had opportunities to comply but chose to disregard them.

In a related note, the MACC hinted at potentially intensifying actions against Daim's sons, including possibly pursuing an international Red Notice due to their persistent non-compliance.

As a temporary measure, the court granted a stay on the execution of the arrest warrants following a request from defense attorney Nizamuddin Hamid, effective until the High Court reviews their application to annul the warrants.

This case has captured significant attention in Malaysia, considering Daim Zainuddin’s historical political and economic influence and reflects ongoing efforts by officials to ensure accountability in significant corruption cases.