DAP's Seri Delima state assemblyperson RSN Rayer has told the Malaysian Bar not to be "overzealous" after its past and present presidents called on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to go on leave pending an investigation into his purchase of a RM2.8 million bungalow.

This, argued Rayer, is because the seller has now signed a statutory declaration stating that she was a willing seller at all material times.

"Doesn’t this mean that there is nothing corrupt about the transaction in the first place?

“So, why jump the gun and ask the chief minister to go on leave when there might not be any case for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate in the first place?" he said in a statement yesterday.

The MACC is investigating the purchase of the bungalow after Umno's Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahya alleged that Lim purchased the property at below market price, purportedly in exchange for kickbacks.

Rayer said there was no need for Lim to go on leave as he does not have power to influence the investigation, which is being conducted by federal agencies.

"Please don’t forget that the police, MACC and the Attorney-General’s Chambers are all federal government departments or agencies, and the chief minister is definitely not in a position to wield any influence or control over them.

“The chief minister is a public official, no doubt, but is definitely not in a position to influence and is definitely not going to interfere with the investigation.

“In this case, the chief minister has in fact urged the MACC to expedite the investigations and has also stated that he is willing to co-operate with the MACC," Rayer said.

Rayer told the Malaysian Bar to be "cautious" when commenting on the issue as some quarters may "take advantage" of it.

Rayer highlighted a previous allegation of improprieties when the Penang government purchased a Mercedes Benz as Lim's official vehicle at below the market price.

"But I wonder what happened to the MACC investigation into this case, for after weeks of adverse and unnecessary hype and publicity, especially on TV3 and other BN-controlled mainstream media, everything came to a naught," he said.

Rayer said BN leaders have constantly maligned Lim, adding that past Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan and current president Steven Thiru, who said the Penang chief minister should consider going on leave, "should not fall into BN's trap".