Malaysian opposition leader charged over graft, claims political interference

A prominent Malaysian opposition leader and critic of Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged on Thursday with two counts of corruption, but maintained his innocence arguing that the action against him was politically motivated.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also secretarygeneral of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP), was arrested on Wednesday and today charged with two counts of corruption over his purchase of a house for some 2.8 million ringgits (around $695,000), which was allegedly linked to the sale of state land.

Investigators claim Lim rezoned a plot of land from agricultural to commercial use, and purchased his house below the market value.

Dozens of supporters gathered outside the Sessions Court in Georgetown, Penang, today to call for Lim’s release and to denounce alleged government corruption, an epa journalist at the scene reports.

When Lim whose bail was set at 1 million ringgits (around $248,000) left the courtroom at around 1.30pm local time (5.30am GMT), the crowd greeted him with cheers.

In a statement published by the MalaysiaKini news site, Lim said the charges are a “clear act of political persecution motivated solely to destroy me as Penang chief minister.”

The politician added that his purchase of the house was an “aboveboard, armslength transaction on a willing buyer and seller basis without any coercion or special favors granted from me or the state government.”

He added that he would continue fighting against Najib’s ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, and hoped to see Malaysia “clean and free from corruption, abuse of power and oppression.”

“If BN feels that they can bend or break me by arresting me, they are wrong! I will die standing (rather) than live on bended knees. A free Malaysia, a fair Malaysia, a prosperous Malaysia for all is worth fighting for,” he added.

Najib has himself been plagued by allegations of corruption, having been accused of diverting some $681 million from state investment fund 1MDB into his bank accounts.

The prime minister was absolved of all charges by the public prosecutor in January and has denied the accusations.

Observers in Malaysia have argued that the action against Lim is part of Najib’s plan to destabalize opposition parties ahead of the next general election, which is expected to be held next year.