Umno lawmakers will file a motion at the state legislative assembly to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over his corruption trial.

"We repeat our demands against the chief minister that he should go on leave until his corruption case is over," said Penang Umno liaison chief Zainal Abidin Osman in a statement today.

He said that Lim's refusal to resign had tarnished the chief minister's office and also put pressure on civil servants who could potentially be witnesses during the trial but are still serving under him.

A long-drawn-out trial will also interrupt the chief minister's work schedule and possibly affect the state administration, he added.

"Therefore, Penang Umno has decided to ask the state opposition leader Jahara Hamid to file a motion to demand  the chief minister's resignation," Zainal said.

This appear to be a tit-for-tat response to Lim's announcement that a motion will be filed at the state assembly siting in May to condemn Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya over the latter's remarks concerning statutory rape.

Motivated by revenge

Zainal said the state government motion was Lim's way of getting back at Shabudin for exposing the chief minister's purchase of a RM2.8 million bungalow which led to the corruption trial.

Lim is on trial for allegedly abusing his position to obtain gratification by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land to residential land while chairing a state Planning Committee meeting on July 18, 2014.

He was also accused of abusing his position to buy a house from co-defendant Phang Li Koon at RM2.8 million, which was below the property's market value of RM4.27 million, on July 28 last year.

Meanwhile, Lim welcomed Umno's attempt to table the motion because it was their democratic right to do so.

"We welcome it even though we (the federal opposition) was not allowed to move a motion against the prime minister over the 1MDB scandal.

"We will not be like BN, which allows only motions which supports the federal government," he added.

He said that Penang state legislative assembly speaker Law Choo Kiang will decide on whether the motion can be tabled, adding that motions condemning the state government had been allowed before.

"Penang and Selangor are different, we give time for the assemblypersons to file and debate motions, including those from the opposition.

"In Parliament, only those which support the government are allowed," he said.