Civil society groups have decried authorities' swift action on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng as "selective prosecution".

In separate statements, Bersih and Centre for Corruption and Cronyism (C4) noted that many other corruption cases had not been dealt with such speed, such as the 1MDB scandal and the multibillion ringgit donation to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"Investigations into all these cases are still pending for more than two years," said Bersih.

Bersih added that Lim's arrest and the "intimidating and heavy" police presence at Komtar yesterday were unnecessary since he had cooperated throughout the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation of him.

The electoral watchdog said it also had "grave concerns" over the arrest of businesswoman Phang Li Koon yesterday.

"Instead, MACC could have issued an order for the chief minister and Phang to be present in court," said Bersih.

However, Bersih and C4 agreed that Lim's case should be brought to court, so that the DAP secretary-general could respond publicly to the allegations on the purchase of his bungalow.

Innocent until proven guilty

But C4 said Lim could only prove his innocence in court if the judicial system is free from political interference, while Bersih urged the judges to be free and fair.

Meanwhile, Bersih said federal minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan's statement yesterday that the arrest shows DAP is not clean, was uncalled-for.

The minister in the Prime Minister's Department had pre-judged the case publicly before it had even gone to trial, said Bersih.

"The rule of thumb is that both of them are innocent until proven guilty."

C4 also urged attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali to act with similar resolve and punish those involved in the alleged embezzlement of billions of ringgit through 1MDB, the prime minister's donation, and SRC International.

"Public trust in these government institutions must be restored urgently.

"As the saying goes, justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done," said C4.

Lim was charged today under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 for allegedly re-zoning a plot of land from agriculture to commercial use.

He was also charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code for the alleged purchasing of a bungalow unit on Jalan Pinhorn below market value.

Phang was accused of abetting Lim to obtain the unit below market value.

She was charged with committing the offence punishable under Section 109 of the Penal Code, which was read togeher with Section 165.