Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng does not need to take leave over his corruption charges, PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli said, despite the latter’s call for Ampang PKR Youth chief Adam Rosly to be relieved of this post.

Rafizi said such matters should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and he argued that Lim’s corruption charges were merely political persecution, whereas Adam’s corruption charges were more straight forward.

“In the case of Adam, I waited until the charges were brought against him, because I wanted to know what exactly are the charges. I think the explanation that he borrowed from Ah Long (loan sharks) to buy a bungalow is not going to be accepted by any sane person.

“(Lim’s case) is political persecution. I have gone through (the case) and I have sat down with some of the lawyers. I think they will put a very good fight in court and I think the public will have a different perspective when it is presented in court,” Rafizi said at a press conference today.

He added that Lim had previously declared his assets, while Adam (photo) did not, despite being urged to do so.

Yesterday, Rafizi issued a statement saying that Adam should be relieved of this post in the party, so to help PKR distance itself from “his personal problems”. He made this response today when asked whether Lim should take leave as well.

Last Friday, Adam claimed trial to six charges under Section 89 of the Anti-Money-Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

This is for allegedly furnishing the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with false information and documents, while being investigated for his extraordinary wealth.

Among others, Adam allegedly claimed to have purchased a RM1.2 million bungalow with cash, using loans from loan sharks, his mother-in-law and from his late grandmother.

PKR deputy president Mohd Azmin Ali had said that the party’s disciplinary committee would discuss Adam’s case.

Chief Minister Lim was charged with two counts of corruption on June 30 last year, in relation to an alleged land conversion from agriculture to housing area, and for allegedly purchasing a bungalow at below its market value.

The hearing is on hold pending Lim’s challenge against a provision under the MACC Act 2008, which is slated for case management on July 26.

Rafizi, who himself is facing charges under the Official Secrets Act 1972 (OSA) and the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 (Bafia), said he would have retired from politics a long time ago if politicians have to resign or take leave for facing criminal charges.

“If you go by that basis, I would be the first one to leave politics because I have 12 charges, but mine are all public interest cases – I exposed scandals; I brought up issues that BN wanted to suppress under the OSA,” he said.

Rafizi is facing the charges under the OSA for allegedly leaking a page from the auditor-general’s 1MDB audit report, and under Bafia for disclosing customer profiles linked to the National Feedlot Centre scandal that were held by Public Bank.