The appointment of DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng as finance minister has raised questions as to why an individual undergoing a corruption trial has been appointed to the post.

Former second finance minister Johari Abdul Ghani, however, believes that Lim is still innocent until proven guilty.

"As I have always said, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We have to respect the rule of law," he told Malaysiakini.

Lim was one of three cabinet ministers that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad named to his cabinet yesterday.

The new finance minister is currently on trial for corruption over the purchase of the Jalan Pinhorn bungalow in George Town from businessperson Phang Li Koon, allegedly at below market price.

He has rubbished the charge as being politically motivated.

Johari insisted the new government deserves a chance to prove itself.

"We have to give chance to the new government to prove themselves, to deliver to the rakyat all the promises that they made.

"The rakyat have decide who they want as a government. So all of us have to accept whichever ministers that the prime minister chooses as his team. We have to respect the voice of the rakyat," he said.

Review corruption charges

Meanwhile, Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said corruption trials against opposition members must be reviewed.

"All these corruption cases involving opposition leaders must now go under review to ascertain if charges are trumped up or not, and if there was selective prosecution if any," she said.

She congratulated the new Harapan government on its appointment of ministers – including for defence and home affairs – and called for mechanisms to ensure transparency.

"These key ministries are key to the integrity and efficiency as well as capability of the government and great responsibility lies with the ministers now appointed.

"We recommend important checks and balances, ombudsman offices and so on, to be set up to ensure accountable transparent governance," she added.

Besides Lim, Mahathir had named Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin as home minister, while Amanah president Mohamad Sabu was made defence minister.