KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 ― The corruption charges against Lim Guan Eng over his house purchase will strengthen national support for the DAP, especially in Penang, as pro-opposition voters perceive the prosecution to be a political attack, analysts said.
Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian said the charges against the Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general would also diminish the perception that Chinese support was returning to the Barisan Nasional (BN), following the federal ruling coalition’s victories in the two recent by-elections in Sungai Besar, Selangor, and Kuala Kangsar, Perak, as well as in the Sarawak state election.
“Electoral impact on DAP is likely to be minimal as this action will galvanise their supporters in the urban areas and allow them to retain most, if not all of their seats,” Ibrahim told Malay Mail Online.
“From a strategic perspective, the opposition’s back is already broken. This arrest and subsequent legal consequence will not substantially change their prospects. Only their ability to create an electoral pact with PAS will help improve their electoral chances,” the political analyst added.
Pakatan Harapan comprising PKR, the DAP, and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) clashed in multi-cornered fights with PAS in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections, allowing BN to maintain its hold on the two parliamentary seats.
Lim claimed trial yesterday at the Penang High Court to two corruption charges ― one under Section 23 of the MACC Act and another under Section 165 of the Penal Code ― over his approval of an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert a piece of land from agricultural to residential purpose, as well as over his purchase of his house from businesswoman Phang Li Koon at RM2.8 million, which was below the property’s market value of RM4.27 million.
Dr Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said although Lim’s prosecution would consolidate the DAP’s hold in Penang, it would distract the federal opposition that already has to contend with PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s imprisonment and PAS’s apparent alliance with Umno.
“As far as the larger scale of things is concerned, I think there are other people in the opposition movement who could carry on the torch. But of course, with the downfall of these major opposition figures, the opposition is going to lose some sort of charismatic appeal,” Oh told Malay Mail Online.
Centre for Policy Initiatives director Dr Lim Teck Ghee said most Malaysians would see the charges against Lim as political persecution and as a further attempt by BN to incapacitate the opposition.
“The ordinary man in the street ― including most BN supporters ― will compare this arrest with the AG’s handling of the 1MDB and donation in the PM’s account cases and will find it difficult ― if not impossible ― to accept the government’s explanation that it is not playing politics. The AG is widely viewed as a compromised official with little credibility or independence,” he told Malay Mail Online.
“The silver lining for the DAP is that it will strengthen the party in Penang and rally voters against the BN,” the political analyst added.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, who led the prosecution team in Lim’s case, did not pursue charges against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the RM2.6 billion deposited in the prime minister’s personal accounts that Apandi had deemed to be a donation from the Saudi royal family. No corruption charges have been brought either relating to state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that is the subject of several foreign investigations.
DAP national vice-chairman Teresa Kok said Malaysians would be angry at the “injustice” against Lim and the opposition.
“I believe the political persecution will make the DAP more united. It will also provide Pakatan Harapan with the very much needed political momentum towards the next general elections,” Kok told Malay Mail Online.
Acting Penang Gerakan chairman Oh Tong Keong merely told Malay Mail Online: “Let justice take its course”.
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan called for the separation of the roles of the AG as legal adviser to the government and as public prosecutor.
“Apandi’s decisions are being seen as selective prosecution because he decided to exonerate and stop the investigations against the person who gave him his current job, yet he has gone ahead to prosecute Najib’s political opponent with much expediency. This creates the impression of a serious conflict of interest,” the think tank chief said in a statement.
“We really need two different individuals to be Attorney General and Public Prosecutor. Even if Apandi was the most honest person on earth, the public will still doubt his decisions because of these circumstances.
“It is in the interest of the nation, and in the interest of Apandi, to immediately start the reform process to free up prosecutorial decisions from perceived political influence,” the political analyst added.
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