Former Malaysian minister Lim Guan Eng pleads not guilty to corruption charge, as wife arrested

Lim, a key member of the ousted Pakatan Harapan coalition, was arrested overnight on charges relating to a China-linked Penang tunnel project

His wife, Betty Chew, was arrested on Friday over a separate case relating to the purchase of a bungalow, and was released on bail

Reading Time:4 minutes

Malaysia's former finance minister Lim Guan Eng speaks after appearing in the Kuala Lumpur High Court following his arrest on Thursday night. Photo: Reuters

Published: 2:49pm, 7 Aug 2020Updated: 9:04pm, 7 Aug 2020

Former Malaysian finance minister and current top opposition leader Lim Guan Eng on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of corruption over a China-linked US$1.5 billion undersea tunnel project.

Meanwhile, local media reported that Lim’s wife Betty Chew and his sister were also summoned by the anti-corruption authorities in Penang on Friday.

Chew was arrested and released on bail. The case is believed to relate to the purchase of a bungalow in Penang. She will reportedly be charged with money laundering on Tuesday.

Lim, who served as the chief minister of the northern state of Penang for a decade, was accused of seeking a 10 per cent cut of profits from the contractor in return for approving the deal.

The project involves a land swap of reclaimed prime land to finance the construction of highways, a metro link and an undersea tunnel connecting Penang island to mainland Peninsular Malaysia. The reclamation project is already under way.

Bail was set at 1 million ringgit (US$238,000).

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x