PENANG — Opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) Secretary General and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on Wednesday for alleged corrupt practices.

In a tweet, his father and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang announced: “Guan Eng arrested by MACC on two charges of corruption and will be produced in court tomorrow morning.”

Mr Lim will be charged with two counts of corruption on Thursday in relation to investigations over his purchase of a house for RM2.8 million (S$939,560), which was linked to the sale of state land in Taman Manggis in Penang. 

The key opposition figure was arrested as soon as he exited the conference room at 6.20pm in the Penang state administrative building after chairing the state’s weekly executive committee meeting.

Five to eight plainclothes men were seen escorting Mr Lim from the building. The MACC opened the probe into Mr Lim and wife Betty Chew after allegations surfaced that the sale of the property to Mr Lim was conducted below market value, and was allegedly linked to the sale of a piece of land in Penang.

The issue was first raised by Mr Shabudin Yahaya, a Member of Parliament for the ruling United Malays National Organisation, in the Malaysian Parliament in March, where he asked if the purchase of the bungalow was linked to the Penang state government’s decision to sell a plot of land to a private company called Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre. 

Mr Lim had consistently denied he bought the house at below market price. He even invited Malaysian media to tour the property in March as a show of transparency. Last month, the MACC searched the Chief Minister’s residence to gather further information regarding the probe.

After Mr Lim was brought to the MACC, more than 200 of his supporters gathered outside the MACC building in a show of support, including executive councillors such as Mr Jagdeep Singh Deo. Mr Singh had claimed earlier that Mr Lim had not been arrested, but was only asked to go to the MACC headquarters. 

However, state exco member Chow Kon Yeow told reporters on Wednesday that Mr Lim would be charged under Section 23 and Section 165 of Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Act. Section 23 covers the offence of using one’s public office or position to obtain gratification for decisions made, while Section 165 of the Penal Code — which was used to convict former Selangor Chief Minister Khir Toyo for abusing his powers to purchase two lots of land and a bungalow — pertains to the same offence. Both offences are punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine, and forfeiture of property.

“The first charge is about the re-zoning approval of (consultancy company) Magnificent Emblem’s application to convert agricultural land to residential. But as we know, this was rejected by the Penang Island City Council,” Mr Chow said. “The second one relates to the purchase of his bungalow at below market value. He will be charged at the Sessions Court tomorrow morning,” Mr Chow said. 

Ms Phang Li Koon, who sold the house to Mr Lim, is a director of Magnificent Emblem. She has also been detained by the MACC. Asked if Mr Lim said anything to his exco team before being taken away, Mr Chow said: “Not much. Just be strong.” AGENCIES