It’s politically motivated, says Mahathir of graft charge against LGE

(FMT) – Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he is “inclined” to think the corruption charge brought against Lim Guan Eng is politically motivated.

“We are inclined to think so,” he said when asked about the DAP secretary-general being charged in court this morning.

The former prime minister hoped that Lim, who served as finance minister under his administration, would be treated fairly, stressing that everyone must be treated equally.

“You cannot have special treatment for this person and not for this other person. Discrimination like that is not justified.”

He told reporters this after announcing his decision to form a new party.

The former Penang chief minister was slapped with a charge under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 of using his position as then Penang chief minister to ask Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (Zenith) senior director Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli for a 10% cut of the profits which would be made from the roads and tunnel project.

Zenith was awarded the contract to carry out the undersea tunnel project linking the island with the mainland and its accompanying three roads.

Lim, who is alleged to have committed the offence in 2011, claimed trial.