Ekip
30 June 2016•Update: 30 June 2016
By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
A prominent member of Malaysia’s opposition pact, the chief minister of northern Penang state Lim Guan Eng, pleaded not guilty to two corruption charges Thursday.
Lim, who is the secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party, was released on bail of 1 million Ringgit ($247,000) with one surety by the Penang High Court.
High Court Justice Azmi Ariffin also allowed a request from Lim's counsel Gobind Singh to allow the chief minister to travel overseas and retain his passport.
The prosecution team was led by Attorney-General Apandi Ali, and the charges filed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over an allegedly corrupt house purchase deal struck last year, using Lim’s executive powers in Penang.
The controversy began when a lawmaker from the ruling United Malays National Organization, Shabudin Yahya, revealed an alleged link between the purchase of the two-story bungalow to the sale of state government land to a private developer.
But Lim dismissed any links.
He is charged under Section 23 of the MACC Act and under Section 165 of the Penal Code.
He is accused of using his public office or position to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land to residential purpose during a state planning committee meeting July 18, 2014.
Section 23 carries a jail term of not more than 20 years and a fine of five times the value of gratification or 10,000 ringgit, whichever is higher.
In the Penal Code charge, Lim was alleged to have used his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from businesswoman Phang Li Koon at 2.8 million Ringgit ($698,000), which was below the property’s market value of 4.27 million Ringgit on July 28, 2015.
The second offense is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, and forfeiture of property upon conviction.
Under Malaysian law, anyone convicted of an offense in the country and sentenced to a jail term of not less than one year, or a fine of more than 2,000 ringgit, loses eligibility to be an elected representative.
Lim, who has been critical of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s handling of controversies surrounding indebted state wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd, has insisted that he has been transparent, and warned against attempts to assassinate his character.
