The MACC will meet on Sept 4 to decide on the next course of action against Lim Guan Eng, after the chief minister failed to abide by a 48-hour deadline for an apology over his “illegal detention” remark on the arrest of Penang exco Phee Boon Poh.
The Star Online quoted MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad as saying: “The 48 hours have passed and he has not apologised to us. His remark is defamatory towards a government agency that does not have any vested interest. We view this matter very seriously.
“We will take action according to the provisions of the law. This is our right,” Dzulkifli said after attending the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry’s Anti-Corruption Pledge signing ceremony today.
On Friday, the anti-graft agency had given 48 hours to apologise after the chief minister told a press conference the previous day that the commission had “illegally” detained Phee over investigations into an illegal factory in Bukit Mertajam.
Phee was arrested on Aug 10 for issuing letters to the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) to halt action on the illegal carbon filtering factory.
MACC intended to remand him for five days from Aug 12, but the High Court in Penang on Aug 14 ordered his release.
The commission, however, said the High Court, in ordering Phee’s release, did not state that the arrest was unlawful.It added that as the MACC was appealing the High Court’s decision, any comments regarding the arrest could be deemed as sub judice and contempt of court.
Bukit Gelugor DAP Ramkarpal Singh came to Lim’s defence, saying that the chief minister did not say that Phee’s arrest was illegal, but only his detention.
The chief minister’s father and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang had also said that in giving the 48-hour ultimatum, Dzulkifli was acting as “prosecutor, jury and judge, all at the same time”.