High Court Orders Return of Daim’s Daughter’s Passport, Rules There Is No Basis to Retain It
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — The High Court has ordered the return of the international passport belonging to Asnida Abdul Daim, daughter of the late former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, after finding no valid justification for authorities to continue holding the travel document.
The decision was delivered by Judge Nurulhuda Nur’Aini Mohamad Nor following submissions from both the prosecution and defence during a case management hearing.
In her ruling, the judge concluded that allegations suggesting Asnida posed a flight risk were not sufficiently supported by evidence.
The court noted that a previous failure to attend an appointment could not automatically be interpreted as an intention to evade legal proceedings.
“There is no merit in retaining the passport. The non-attendance cited has not been proven to constitute a flight risk, and there is no justification for continuing to withhold the applicant’s passport,” the judge said.
The court further directed that the passport be returned to Asnida within seven days of the order.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Nidzuwan Abd Latip opposed the application, arguing that Asnida’s frequent overseas travel and business interests abroad could create a risk that she might leave the country.
The prosecution also urged the court to consider the public interest surrounding the case.
However, defence counsel Rajesh Nagarajan argued that conducting business internationally does not make an individual a flight risk.
He maintained that his client had remained in Malaysia since surrendering her passport and had cooperated with the legal process.
Rajesh further contended that assuming a person who travels regularly for business would abscond was unreasonable and unsupported by facts.
Asnida previously pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court on April 7 to a charge of knowingly providing a false sworn written statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The charge relates to an alleged failure to comply with a notice issued under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009 concerning the declaration of shareholdings and financial interests.
The notice was reportedly issued by a senior MACC officer in November 2023 as part of an investigation involving asset declarations.
The alleged offence concerns shareholdings in five companies: Amiraz Sdn Bhd, Arida Farms Sdn Bhd, Kangkung Catering Sdn Bhd, Transgrade Sdn Bhd and Gajah3 Foods Sdn Bhd.
The offence was allegedly committed at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya in December 2023.
If convicted under Section 36(2) of the MACC Act 2009, Asnida faces a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to RM100,000, or both.
