No one is perfect and we can’t expect perfect politicians to look after us. That is why we need systems and checks and balance to ensure compliance and minimum malfeasance and deviation. Sometimes it is the choice of the lesser evil.

I believe Lim Guan Eng is a good politician and a good chief minister of Penang, despite whatever shortcomings he may have. His position is always precarious. He must face more odds than others to do whatever he wants to do for Penang and Malaysia. There are people, from within his own party, the NGOs, as well as his political enemies who just can’t wait for a right moment to criticise and destabilise him.

Politicians are criticised when they do wrong, that is for sure. However, sometimes politicians are targeted on when they are too impartial, straight and firm.

Guan Eng should be very careful because he is not an ordinary politician. His colleagues may have an axe to grind. Business people may be unhappy with his decisions. His political enemies may be too envious of his tenacity and performance thus far.

Accusations against him are expected. What more when a bungalow of more than 10,000 square feet was sold to him at a very attractive price. Most would capitalise on the opportunity to criticise and vilify him especially when there was a precedence committed under similar circumstances.

Personally I don’t think Guan Eng was that foolish to be involved in something so blatant. Say whatever you like, it is never easy for opposition politicians to be corrupt in this country.

If he is innocent, he should let the process runs its course. There is no need for him to make statements which will only create more doubts and provide more ammunition to his enemies.

It is useless to say that the price of the property was agreed upon earlier unless there was an agreement attested to it. It is also useless to say that he was not aware of the market value of the bungalow. I am quite sure whatever price transacted between parties without duress is not a crime. Someone could have donated the bungalow to him out of respect, love and affection, for all we care.

To me, the best defence to all these allegations is for the previous owner of this bungalow to make a statement or a status declaration that there was no quid pro quo in this transaction that involved Guan Eng’s performance as the chief minister of Penang. It is for the relevant authorities to investigate and validate the declaration fairly and transparently. The rest can shaft it.