KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — Despite heavy criticism from their political opponents, Penang Pakatan Harapan agreed today that Lim Guan Eng should not vacate his post as chief minister pending the outcome of his corruption trial.
According to Malaysiakini, state leaders from the pact’s three member parties held a meeting in Komtar, Penang, to discuss the matter.
The news portal said that at a press conference to announce the decision, a grateful Lim stood to bow to his comrades as a gesture of thanks for their decision.
“I am touched,” Lim was quoted as saying to surprised looks all around.
The second-term chief minister also reportedly thanked the public for showing their support to him and his family.
Those at the press conference, according to Malaysiakini, included state PKR chief Datuk Mansor Othman and Parti Amanah Negara vice-president Datuk Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have been rallying for Lim to step down during his trial, pointing out that the opposition has numerous times demanded the same of leaders from the ruling pact.
Another party leader, Parti Cinta Malaysia’s Datuk Huan Cheng Guan yesterday also pointed out that former Selangor chief ministers from BN — the late Datuk Seri Harun Idris, and Tan Sri Muhammad Taib, who is now with PKR — had stepped down after they were charged in court.
Harun, the longest serving Selangor mentri besar, resigned in 1976 when he was charged with corruption and abuse of state funds. He was sentenced to six years’ jail.
Muhammad resigned in 1997 when he was charged in Australia over currency irregularities, but he was found not guilty, while another former Selangor mentri besar from BN, Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, stepped down as state opposition leader when he was charged with corruption in 2010.
But despite this, DAP’s Penang chapter and national leadership have agreed that it was not necessary for Lim to leave the state helm as he has no control over the prosecution in his case.
Lim was charged with abuse of power and corruption at the Penang High Court on Thursday over the alleged approval of a rezoning application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land to residential, as well as over his purchase of his RM2.8 million house from Phang Li Koon at below market value of RM4.27 million.
Lim, who claimed trial to two corruption charges, faces a jail term of not more than 20 years and a fine of five times the value of gratification or RM10,000 ,whichever is higher, if convicted for the first charge and up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine and forfeiture of property upon conviction for the second charge.
Penang DAP and the DAP national leadership have labelled the corruption charges as political persecution and insisted that Lim need not resign or take leave from his position.
