He said there were some, including in the opposition, who had issues with acting against those who had accumulated wealth through dubious means if these suspects were either old or dead.

“We are not out to punish the dead. We just want to recover the funds that have been embezzled,” he said at the finance ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya.

He also hit out at the opposition which he said had defended those who amassed “billions of ringgit” without a clear source of income.

“Yet when he dies, he leaves behind RM2 billion. This is unacceptable,” he added.

Anwar did not identify anyone in particular but is believed to be alluding to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe into the family of the late Daim Zainuddin, a former finance minister.

MACC chief Azam Baki previously said the commission was considering seizing over RM2 billion in undeclared assets linked to Daim, his family, and proxies.

In January last year, Daim claimed trial to failing to comply with the terms of an asset declaration notice issued by MACC.

He was accused of failing to disclose his ownership of 38 companies, 19 land plots in five states, six properties, two unit trust accounts, and seven luxury cars. MACC said he had asked for five deadline extensions but still failed to comply.

The prosecution withdrew the charges against him following his death on Nov 13 last year, and the court granted an order discharging and acquitting him.