Stop delaying and let corruption trial proceed, Guan Eng told

PETALING JAYA: Lim Guan Eng (pic) should be brave to face his corruption case head-on, said the Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications (BNSC) team on the first anniversary of the Penang Chief Minister being charged with two counts of corruption.

BNSC deputy director Eric See-To said that since Lim maintains his innocence, he should allow the court case to proceed and have his say in court instead of continuously challenging the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act as being unconstitutional, as it only serves to delay the case.

"It is Guan Eng's own delay tactics that is depriving himself of the chance for him to prove his innocence," he said in a statement on Saturday.

See-To added that the delay of the trial also deprived the people of the chance to hear the details of the case and decide for themselves if Lim is innocent or if the case is based on trumped up charges, as Lim has alleged.

Lim had on June 30, 2016 claimed trial at the George Town High Court to two charges of corrupt practices.

Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon are challenging the constitutionality of a provision of the MACC Act which compels them to submit their defence before the start of the trial of their corruption case.

Lim was charged with obtaining gratification for himself and his wife Betty Chew by approving the conversion of two lots of agricultural land belonging to Magnificent Emblem into residential development while chairing a state Planning Committee meeting on July 18, 2014.

Lim faces another charge for allegedly using his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his bungalow in Pinhorn Road from Phang at RM2.8mil, below the market value of RM4.27mil, on July 28, 2015.

Phang is charged with abetment. Both Lim and Phang have pleaded not guilty.