ANALYSIS Christmas must have come early for Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng this year, when the US Department of Justice (DOJ) unveiled its 1MDB-linked corruption clampdown.

Grabbing at the news like a freshly unwrapped toy gun, the embattled state leader eagerly aimed his new weapon at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, and went: “Bang! Now it’s your turn to do snap elections!” (Writer's note: Not an actual quote)

It was a much-needed ammo for Lim, who has been under fire for mulling snap state polls amid his double corruption charges.