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Be a gentleman and take leave, PAS tells Guan Eng
Published:  Jul 3, 2016 1:43 PM
Updated: 5:58 AM

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should act like a gentleman and take leave, PAS spiritual leader Haron Din reportedly said.

His comments come as Lim faces two charges of alleged corruption, and is facing calls for him to take leave or resign from his post, or to be suspended from his party.

“It is customary in the modern world, especially in Malaysia, that when a public servant is faced with serious allegations such as graft, abuse of power, and so on, the public servant would take leave.

He offered the example of CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chairperson Nazir Razak who temporarily took leave, although it was not a formal charge but merely news that he has abused his power.

“So as a gentleman, he (Lim) should take leave,” he reportedly told Utusan Malaysia, according to an article published in its weekend edition today.

He said taking leave would be the appropriate move, even though there were no laws compelling him to do so.

Lim was charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and Section 165 of the Penal Code on Thursday.

He is accused of using his position for gratification in 2014 by approving the re-zoning of land in favour of Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd, and knowingly accepting valuables (a bungalow) in exchange for money below its actual value, from someone whom he knows he is likely to have official business with.

Also charged on Thursday was the businessperson and owner of Magnificent Emblem, Phang Li Koon, who is accused of abetting Lim into the second offence by selling him a bungalow last year.

Both have pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

Since then, Lim has been under pressure to step down or take leave, but he said he would leave the decision to his party. DAP’s central executive committee unanimously decided that Lim should stay.

However, his father and DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said he would go on a nationwide tour to find out if Malaysians think Guan Eng should stay or should go.

 

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