Corruption claims put Guan Eng in troubled waters
Zainal Epi, Malay Mail Online
Once seen as secure, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng now finds himself under relentless assault from political rivals who smell blood in the water.
A high-profile investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into the state’s controversial undersea tunnel project has provided parties such as Gerakan ample ammunition to target Lim and his administration.
The case has made headline after headline as more and more information trickles out from the investigation, even as Lim tried to dismiss the matter as a “political circus”.
Critically for Lim, the probe into the RM305 million reportedly paid for feasibility studies and detailed designs of the project come at a most inopportune time, just ahead of a general election that is no more than months away.
This will distract the DAP secretary-general at a time when he needs to lead his party’s defence of the state, which has become a hotbed of activity by Barisan Nasional (BN) parties eager to undo the losses of 2008 and 2013.
The case will only further sidetrack Lim, who is already facing a corruption trial over the purchase of his home in Penang, allegedly for below market price.
That is also not the end of his legal troubles as he also has two defamation cases involving Gerakan leaders that will only force him to spend precious time in court that he could otherwise use for stumping.
Another issue he must contend with is the undercurrent of discontent in PKR over seat allocations in the state as well as possible unhappiness that is said to be fomenting within his own party’s grassroots.
Still, Lim and DAP do not appear at risk of being thrown out in the general election, as voters appear content to keep their faith in the two to continue leading the state.
Some remain unconvinced by the allegations against Lim over the house purchase or those against his administration from the RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project.
Even ally-turned-rival PAS concedes that forcing Lim and DAP out of the Penang government will be a monumental task, notwithstanding the corruption claims against both.
A former PAS leader, who was sacked from as a local councillor after his party fell out with DAP three years ago, said this was mainly due to how political views of high-income earners in the state tended to differ from those of the middle class and below.
Yaacob Omar, who previously campaigned for the defunct Pakatan Rakyat in 2008 and 2013, is now responsible to canvas for Malay votes for PAS in the state.
However, he said trying to lure Chinese support has been virtually impossible despite the apparent troubles with Lim and DAP.
“The bungalow case, for example, has created more sympathy than dislike among the Chinese voters in Penang,” he lamented.
“The undersea tunnel issue does not even go down to the voters as they simply ignore the sophisticated and complicated dealings. Simply put, they do not want to understand the figures or the dealings.”
Some pleaded ignorance over the matter, with Yaacob expressing frustration over the unintestered responses when attempting to raise the issue within the Chinese community.
As a result, he said PAS was now focusing efforts on the Malay community, and will limit outreach to Chinese voters as it “just cannot change the mindset”.
Gerakan also conceded to similar difficulties, but expressed confidence that voters would have the wisdom to see the issues the party was pointing out with Lim’s administration.
The party that previously governed Penang until it was defeated by DAP in 2008 has been spearheading the offensive against Lim’s administration over the undersea tunnel project and other issues in the state.
“We continue telling the voters that Lim and his administration are not as clean as he claims and it is up to the voters to make their own evaluation through the evidence we have presented,” said a Gerakan leader.
Away from the political front-line, Lim’s biggest hurdle in the state is PKR lawmakers who are said to be starting to chafe at his officiousness.
Lim is regularly accused of authoritarianism and not from rivals alone. This may now be rubbing some PKR assemblymen the wrong way, which could become a problem later as PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali is still holding on to the possibility of cooperating with PAS.
As Amanah is struggling to fill PAS’s shoes in the new Opposition pact and with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) yet to establish itself, Lim and DAP will find itself exposed on the Malay voter front.
With rumours that the 14th general election may be called as early as March or April, Lim and DAP will be weighed down by these issues when both are busy navigating treacherous waters.
