Malaysia's former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has been arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) due to alleged offences related to his involvement in the RM6.3 billion (S$2.1 billion) Penang undersea tunnel project, Bernama reported on Thursday, Aug. 6.

The arrest was made at about 9:30pm on Thursday.

To be charged in the coming days

MACC said in a statement that Lim will be charged at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday, Aug. 7, and the Penang Sessions Court on Monday, Aug. 10, for bribery and abuse of power relating to the undersea tunnel project.

The project was approved in 2013, when he was Penang Chief Minister.

Lim, who was Penang Chief Minister from 2008 to 2018 until he became finance minister, will also be charged at the Penang Sessions Court on Tuesday, Aug. 11 for a separate case.

Lim, who was part of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition government that was ousted in March this year, was seen entering the MACC headquarters at about 9:10pm on Thursday in a white Toyota Vellfire van, Bernama reported.

According to Malay Mail, the MACC is believed to be looking into allegations that the state government had allowed the Penang Tunnel special purpose vehicle company to pre-sell state land rights worth RM3 billion (S$980 million), although there is a four-year delay in the construction of roads.

The authorities are also believed to be looking into the feasibility and design studies which are not yet completed, despite a payment of RM220 million (S$72 million) allegedly made to the same company.

Not the first time

This is not the first time Lim has faced charges.

He was previously charged in 2016 with two counts of abuse of power for approving a land deal and allegedly buying a bungalow at below market price.

His supporters said the move was part of a crackdown on those who went against then Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration, Reuters reported.

His corruption charges were later dropped months after PH came into power.

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