“MACC would like to stress that the decision to withdraw the case was made by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, not MACC,” it said in a short statement.

Lim and Phang were earlier acquitted of the corruption charges made against them in 2016 after the public prosecutor decided to drop the case.

The prosecutors initially asked the court for a discharge not amounting to acquittal for both the accused, but the court ruled that they were free from all charges.

Lim was charged with abusing his position as chief minister in approving a land deal as well as purchasing a bungalow at below market price.

MACC began investigating him in March after a report filed against him over the purchase of the bungalow in July 2015.

At the time of purchase, Lim had said it was an open transaction between “a willing buyer and a willing seller”.

Prosecutors said Lim was fully aware of the bungalow’s market value when he paid an ad valorem duty of RM122,100.

Lim was also accused of failing to declare his relationship and interest in a state planning committee meeting where he approved the rezoning application of two pieces of land from agricultural to public housing by MESB, where Phang is a director.