Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's best option right now is to go on leave since he is facing corruption charges, anti-graft NGO Centre for Corruption and Cronyism (C4) says.

"In principle, Lim should seriously consider that the best option is to hand over the reins of power to his successor and take leave as chief minister," C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel told Malaysiakini today.

However, Cynthia acknowledged that the issue is complicated , since the system seemed to be biased against anyone who is not in the same camp as the political leadership.

"They (national leaders) hold the keys to all the institutions, so it's not a level playing field," she said.

While she said Lim should go on leave until the court case is concluded, as it is not a level playing field and court cases can drag on for years, it is a bit unfair to him in this case.

National leaders could potentially charge anyone and they would all have to go on leave for an indefinite period pending the court case, she said.

She suggested that the courts deliver their verdicts in a time-appropriate manner so that no one is victimised in the process.

Pressed on whether it is double standard for DAP to call for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to go on leave pending investigations into cases related to him while deciding that Lim need not need take leave after being charged, Cynthia said both Najib and Lim should go on leave.

Meanwhile, Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman (photo) pointed out that if Lim, as the chief minister refused to take leave after being charged in court, it would set a very bad precedent for public service in Penang.

"Why should the chief minister be an exception? It would set a very bad precedent for public service in Penang if the chief minister is given an exemption.

"The people of Penang, and myself, think that Lim has set a very high standard for himself, with CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) as his motto. I couldn't believe (the decision) not to take leave," Zainal Abidin said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Do not become a laughingstock

He stressed that Lim should have the right to be heard in court, but insisted that he go on leave.

Urging DAP not to make itself a "laughingstock" of the nation due to its decision that Lim stays on as chief minister, Zainal Abidin also pointed out that Lim's charge is related to his position as the chair of the state planning committee.

He questioned how Lim could stay on as chief minister and thus continue as the chair of the state planning committee when his charge is related to that position.

"There's no such thing as a conspiracy. The truth is that he has to go. This is a double standard and a laughingstock," he said.

State opposition leader Jahara Hamid also said that even though Lim was not a civil servant appointed through the Public Service Department, and thus not beholdened to its General Orders, the charge against him was made based on his position as someone in civil service.

Jahara also brought up the CAT principles of the Penang state government, saying that Lim should follow the principles.

"As someone who is moral and accountable, Lim should step down or go on leave until he is cleared of any wrongdoing," she is quoted as saying on Umno Online today.

Yesterday, Lim claimed trial in the High Court in Penang to two corruption charges, one under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and another under Section 165 of the Penal Code.

The charges are over his approval of an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert a piece of land from agricultural to residential purpose, as well as for his purchase of a bungalow from businesswoman Phang Li Koon at RM2.8 million at below the property’s market value of RM4.27 million.