‘Arrest unnecessary, Guan Eng would have appeared in court’
Penang Amanah chief Mujahid Yusof Rawa says Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has cooperated with MACC before and the arrest was part of theatrics to demoralise Opposition.
GEORGE TOWN: Arresting Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is an attempt to demoralise Opposition supporters but it could also have an opposite effect, Penang Amanah Chief Mujahid Yusof Rawa says.
Mujahid said Lim could have been summoned to court and need not have been arrested.
“They could have just summoned him the charge sheet, then he could have produced himself voluntarily tomorrow.
“It has been proven he was giving good and full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“There is no need for raids and the arrest,” he said when met by reporters at the #BebasGuanEng vigil outside the MACC headquarters in Northam Road here today.
Earlier, Lim was arrested by MACC officers at his office in Komtar. His former landlord, Phang Li Koon, was arrested at her office at Menara Penang Garden about the same time as well.
They will be both charged at the Sessions Court tomorrow morning under the Penal Code and MACC Act 2009 for allegedly being involved in corruption in a re-zoning of land in Balik Pulau and the controversial Pinhorn Road bungalow purchase.
Meanwhile, Mujahid, who is also Parit Buntar MP, hoped the MACC would investigate Lim transparently and free from pressure of “political powers.”
“We hope that the CM is (declared) innocent from all these charges. We hope that he can be freed and not charged,” Mujahid said.
When asked if Lim’s arrest had somewhat united the Opposition bloc, Mujahid said it would further strengthen the “already solid coalition.”
“Our morale might have been lowered, but we will not lose our hope.
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“Definitely, it will also strengthen our coalition. Look, all parties are here in support of Lim,” Mujahid added.