New Straits Times

Guan Eng: Kin won’t replace me as CM

- PHUAH KEN LIN GEORGE TOWN phuahkenli­n@nst.com.my

‘NOT TRUE’: Snap polls to seek new mandate, says DAP secretary-general

CHIEF Minister Lim Guan Eng has denied claims that he wanted to be replaced by a family member should he be forced to resign.

Lim, who is also DAP secretaryg­eneral, was commenting on a remark by state Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman, who wanted him to clear the air over the “family succession” issue.

He said claims by Zainal about maintainin­g the “Lim Dynasty” in Malaysian politics were a lie and defamatory, and denied speculatio­n that either his father, wife or sister would succeed him should there be snap polls.

He said he could end up in jail due to the charges.

“Let’s be frank, I am not the type of person who will deny what is going to happen (to be jailed) and everybody knows (it). But the replacemen­t is not from any of my family members (to succeed Lim as the next chief minister),” he said here yesterday.

Lim said the snap polls would seek a new mandate from the people to decide on the fate of the Pakatan Harapan-led government.

He was charged with abuse of power and corruption over the alleged approval of a rezoning applicatio­n by Magnificen­t Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultur­al land to residentia­l use, and over the purchase of his RM2.8 million house from businesswo­man Phang Li Koon at below the market value of RM4.27 million.

Lim faces a jail term of not more than 20 years and a fine of five times the value of gratificat­ion or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted on the first charge, and up to two years’ jail, a fine and forfeiture of property, if convicted on the second charge.

 ??  ?? Lim Guan Eng
Lim Guan Eng

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