Post by : Shakul

The Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Lumpur has issued arrest warrants against three individuals, including two sons of the late former Malaysian finance minister Daim Zainuddin, after they failed to comply with multiple notices from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The individuals named in the warrants are Muhammed Amir Zainuddin, 31, Muhammed Amin Zainuddin, 28, and businesswoman Josephine Premla. Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan approved the prosecution’s request after being satisfied that all three had prior knowledge of the notices issued but deliberately failed to present themselves for questioning.

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat, the MACC had issued several notices under Section 30 of the MACC Act, requiring the individuals to appear for investigation. The first notice, dated February 13, 2026, required their presence the following day. Although the court acknowledged that the notice period was short, it noted that the accused were aware of the matter through communication by their legal representative shortly after.

Following this, MACC granted an extension, setting a new date of March 11, 2026, providing nearly three weeks for the individuals to comply. However, the defence informed the commission via a letter dated March 9 that the individuals would not be able to attend and instead proposed March 30 as a suitable date.

Despite accommodating this request, MACC later issued a final extension, setting April 6, 2026, as the last date for the individuals to appear. Yet again, the trio failed to attend. In a letter dated April 4, their lawyer stated that they would be unable to present themselves and requested a further postponement until July 2026.

The court observed that repeated delays and failure to cooperate with the investigation justified the issuance of arrest warrants. Magistrate Illi Marisqa Khalizan stated that the prosecution’s application had merit, emphasizing that the individuals had sufficient notice and opportunity to comply but chose not to do so.

In a related development, MACC had earlier indicated that it may pursue stricter action, including the possibility of initiating an international Red Notice against Daim’s sons due to their continued non-compliance with the investigation process.

However, in a temporary relief for the accused, the court allowed an application by defence lawyer Nizamuddin Hamid to stay the execution of the arrest warrants. This stay will remain in effect until the defence files an application at the High Court to set aside the warrants and a decision is made on the matter.

The case has drawn significant attention in Malaysia, given Daim Zainuddin’s prominent political and financial legacy, and is seen as part of ongoing efforts by authorities to enforce accountability in high-profile corruption investigations.

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