PETALING JAYA: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should prove his innocence in court and show his respect for the law and the legal system, says Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker (pix).
The MCA religious harmony bureau chairman said this was because Lim, as a lawmaker, must uphold the law and the rule of law.
“Do not undermine the courts or attempt to subjugate the courts to public or political pressure,” he said in a statement Friday.
Ti, who is also an MCA central committee member, said if Lim was “so confident that he was innocent", then he should be happy to be given a chance to clear his name and prove his innocence in court.
There was no need, he said, for any “political antics or theatrics” now.
“The public is watching and the jury is out there before the next general election. Prove your innocence and show your respect for the law and our legal system of which you are a lawmaker,” said Ti.
He said Lim should not accuse the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the Attorney-General of being political tools, adding that there was no need to “trump up allegations of abuse of power, conspiracy or persecution".
The Malaysian courts, reminded Ti, had made “a few high-profile findings unfavourable to the ruling Government”, such as the recent Federal Court’s decision in awarding damages to ex-ISA detainees from the Opposition.
Lim, said Ti, would not step down despite being charged although he had so often called on others to do so in the face of mere allegations or during the investigation itself.
“This, unfortunately, is the real politics of which he (Lim) has benefited,” said Ti.
Lim, who is also the Bagan MP, has claimed trial to a charge of using his position as a public servant to obtain gratification for himself and his wife Betty Chew by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem to convert two lots of agricultural land in the southwest district for residential purposes during a state planning committee meeting in July, 2014.
He also pleaded not guilty to another charge under Section 165 of the Penal Code for using his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from a businesswoman, Phang Li Koon, at RM2.8mil, which was below the property’s market value of RM4.27mil on July 28, last year.
Lim was allowed bail at RM1mil.
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