FORMER Malaysian Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin, who pleaded not guilty earlier this year to charges of failing to disclose his assets, died in the early hours of Wednesday, his lawyer said.

Daim, 86, served as finance minister from 1984 to 1991 and 1999 to 2001 under former prime minister Mahathir Mohammed. He was seen as a key confidant of Mahathir, helping him advance his economic agenda, including pouring money into roads, schools and other projects and forcing banks to cut interest rates.

His lawyer, Gurdial Singh Nijar, confirmed Daim’s death to Reuters and said his funeral will be held on Wednesday.

“He was in the intensive care unit after suffering a stroke in the past few weeks,” Singh Nijar said, but added that he did not know the cause of death.

Daim and his wife, who are under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, were charged in January with failing to declare assets, including the Inspiration Tower skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, which the agency seized in December. Both pleaded not guilty. REUTERS, BLOOMBERG