Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan has criticised Pakatan Harapan leaders over their "hypocritical" stand concerning Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Describing their excuses as "shoddy", the BN strategic communications director said he could only marvel at their attempts to deny practising double standards.

He was responding to the statements from Pakatan leaders that Lim could continue helming the state government despite being slapped with two counts of criminal charges.

Among others, Abdul Rahman cited Parti Amanah Negara strategic director Dzulkefly Ahmad who questioned the timing of hauling Lim to court since the next general election is less than two years away.

"If we are to follow Dzulkefly's questioning of the timing, there will never be a right time to charge any opposition leader.

"If the attorney-general were to press the charges next year, then the general election will only be less than one year away - strengthening his suspicions.

"On the other hand, if the AG filed charges last year, I am sure they will give the excuse that this is to divert attention from the 1MDB issue then," he said in a media statement.

Abdul Rahman pointed out that Anwar Ibrahim's court trials took place in 2014 and 2015, but the opposition still alleged it was a political conspiracy.

"It seems there will never be a good time to file any charges against Pakatan leaders. Perhaps Dzulkefly can suggest what would be the best time to charge an opposition leader.

"Perhaps the courts and the Attorney-General's Chambers can be persuaded to adjust their timing to your preferred schedule," he said.

Abdul Rahman also zeroed in on the "most unique excuse" from PKR lawmaker Johari Abdul as to why Lim should not step aside.

"Johari's excuse is that Lim had addressed the allegations over which he was charged, and PKR believed in his innocence claiming that this is merely a smear campaign.

"Johari should be reminded that whether an accused is guilty or innocent of criminal charges is not just based on the bare denials of the accused and certainly not for PKR to be the judge.

"This is the reason why Malaysia has laws, lawyers, judges and courts," he said.

According to Abdul Rahman, the various flimsy excuses given by the Pakatan leaders and their inability to understand the criminal charges against Lim have exposed their lack of principles, their double standards and their inability to walk the talk.

"With this act of stubbornness and hypocrisy to defend Lim's decision not to step aside when facing criminal charges, Pakatan Harapan has forfeited the moral right to call for anyone else to step down in future," he added.