Leave matter in the hands of the courts, say Barisan Nasional leaders

PETALING JAYA: The course of justice must be swift after the arrest of Penang Chief Minister, says his fiercest critic Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

“After months of internal investigation and intense public discourse, I am relieved that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has decided to take action against Lim Guan Eng,” said the new Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in a statement on Wednesday.

Before releasing his official press statement, Abdul Rahman, the Kota Belud MP, had tweeted an ambiguous post, with an obvious reference to Lim.

“Sepandai-pandai tupai utara melompat, akhirnya jatuh ketanah jua” (as high as a northern squirrel hops, one day it will also fall) #uknowwhouare” he tweeted.

In his statement, he said: “DAP’s slogan of being the most clean political party in Malaysia does not hold water, after Lim’s arrest by MACC today. Transparency and accountability must be practised, not preached.”

State MCA deputy chief Tan Teik Cheng said Penangites should stay calm and leave the matter to the courts.

“We should stop making public or online remarks on the matter. Let justice take its course,” he said.

State MCA secretary Dr Tan Chuan Hong agreed. “Lim is entitled to a fair trial and I’m sure the court will perform its duty,” he added.

Dr Tan Chuan Hong

State Gerakan acting chairman Oh Tong Keong also said Lim should let the courts decide if he is innocent or guilty.

“Justice must be done,” said Oh.

When contacted, Machang Bubok assemblyman Lee Khai Loon expressed shock over the arrest of Lim Guan Eng.

“We are quite shocked.

“We felt that it wasn’t necessary for such an arrest towards the Chief Minister of Penang.

“I feel the arrest is politically motivated in an attempt to destabilise Penang following Barisan Nasional’s victories in the recent by-elections,” he said.

PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said he had “complete faith” in Lim’s leadership and his stewardship of Penang.

Azmin, who managed to speak with Lim shortly before his arrest, said it was a “vicious and relentless conspiracy” to discredit him and federal Opposition members.

The party’s state chief Datuk Mansor Othman said PKR fully supported Lim’s leadership and would stand by him.

“There has been attack after attack against Lim regarding the bungalow purchase issue.

“PKR hopes a thorough investigation will be conducted by MACC that’s transparent and not politically motivated.”

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu was shocked by the arrest, especially since it came during Ramadan. He called the arrest “selective prosecution.”

DAP lawmakers rallied behind their leader.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng slammed the arrest, saying it was an attempt to “paint DAP black” before the next elections.

He said the fact that it took the MACC “so long to investigate” showed that it was “clearly a political prosecution”.

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said it was a case of “selective prosecution”, adding that the Attorney-General’s Chambers was practising “double standards”.

DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) chief Wong Kah Woh called it “political harassment of the highest degree”.

The Canning state assemblyman added that Dapsy would continue to stand firm behind Lim.

In black and white: The press statement issued by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission regarding Lim’s arrest.