By Syauqi Jamil
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today again brushed off pressures against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s alleged of graft charges.
He said Lim was one of those who were victimised by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government who intended to end Bagan MP’s political career.
“As you know the previous government victimises all the other opposition. There are many people who had done what Lim has done but was not selected.
“They select Lim for special purpose, (which is) to get rid of him,” he told reporters after his keynote speech at the Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018.
Mahathir also defended Penang High Court’s decision to acquit Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng of graft charges when he said that “the case is not the same as (former Selangor MB Dr Mohamad) Khir Toyo’s (case)”.
Khir, had been jailed for 12 months for using his position to purchase land and bungalow units in Shah Alam on September 29, 2015.
Earlier this month, Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) said that it was “very shocked” by the decision to dismiss corruption charges against Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon over a property purchase.
MACC said the decision to withdraw the charges was by the Attorney General’s Chambers.
This was in relation to the purchase of a bungalow at Jalan Kebung Bunga two years ago.
Lim on June 30, 2016, claimed trial to using his position as a public officer, namely, as the then Chief Minister of Penang, to gain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng.
