Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi has accused the Pakatan Harapan government of hypocrisy with regard to Lim Guan Eng being sworn in as finance minister despite facing a corruption charge.
He also questioned the silence of those who criticised the former BN government on issues of corruption.
“The question is, where is the Bar Council, where is Bersih, where is Transparency International Malaysia, where is (National Human Rights Association president) Ambiga Sreenevasan?
“Where are the Harapan parties, including DAP, who were purportedly champions of anti-corruption?
“Why the double standards? If they have dignity, they would have pressured Guan Eng not to accept the post,” he added in Umno Online.
According to Puad, the DAP secretary-general's appointment has tarnished the credibility of the next government
He also questioned what had happened to the “rule of law” in Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's administration.
“This is a bad precedent. True, he has not been found guilty, but isn't Guan Eng facing trial? He has a case and the charges were based on the evidence put forth by MACC.
“Now the people are concerned if the charges against Guan Eng would be dropped to legitimise his appointment as finance minister,” he added.
Guan Eng's case similar to Khir Toyo's case
Puad said Guan Eng's case is similar to that of former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, where both acquired bungalows below market value and the sellers were accused of receiving something in return.
“Due to the case, Khir Toyo not only had to resign but was also forced to serve a prison sentence after being found guilty. On the contrary, Guan Eng (photo) is appointed finance minister,” he added.
The Umno leader also cited how Sarawak DAP chairperson Chong Chieng Jen urged all Harapan parties not to accept former human resources minister and Serian MP Richard Riot Jaem into their fold because his former aide was arrested by MACC for corruption.
He said despite the fact that it was his former aide and not him who was arrested, Riot was branded as a criminal.
In Guan Eng's case, Puad argued that the former is the one who had been charged, but Chong never called for his appointment as finance minister to be cancelled.
“This is the hypocrisy of the Harapan government,” he added.
Guan Eng's case has been postponed after his lawyers told the court that representation would be filed with the incoming attorney-general to drop the charges if they are politically motivated.
On June 30, 2016, Lim claimed trial to charges linked to the conversion of state land from agriculture to residential and the purchase of a plot of land and bungalow at below the market value.
If convicted, Lim faces imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the bribe, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
He faces a second charge of using his position to obtain for himself a plot of land and a bungalow, located at No 25, Jalan Pinhorn, George Town, on July 28, 2015, from businessperson Phang Lih Koon for RM2.8 million, which was alleged to be below the market value of RM4.27 million.
If convicted, Lim faces a jail term for up to two years, or a fine, or both.
Phang also claimed trial to the charge of abetting Lim in obtaining the bungalow at an undervalued cost.
If convicted, she faces a jail term of up to two years or a fine, or both, upon conviction. -Mkini
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