Pua: Guan Eng 'reserves the right' to sue those who question his credentials

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng reserves the right to initiate defamatory action against anyone questioning his credentials as an accountant, said his political secretary Tony Pua today.

In a press conference, the Damansara MP also pointed out that the DAP secretary-general had completed and passed all the examinations necessary to obtain his degree and qualifications to be an accountant by 1983.

Pua was responding to MCA president Wee Ka Siong, who had recently questioned how Lim had become a qualified accountant, a year before obtaining a degree.

Wee had said that while it is stated in Lim's website that he had become a qualified professional accountant in 1983, a search on the Monash University's website showed that Lim had only obtained his Bachelor of Economics in 1984.

To this, Pua said it was "idiotic" for Wee to not make the link, given that the Australian academic calendar ends in November, before the summer break.

"Therefore, by the end of 1983, Lim had completed and passed all his examinations necessary for him to obtain his degree and qualifications to be an accountant.

"For Wee's information, Lim had duly received his 'Certificate of Membership' in Australian Society of Accountants three months after passing his examinations on Feb 21, 1984. His membership was even before he received his degree certificate on April 11, 1984. Both copies of the certificates are attached," Pua told the press conference.

"One would have expected a PhD holder such as Wee to be able to tell the difference between a person successfully graduating from university, and when he or she receives the 'official' certificate, which can be six months or even a year later!"

To Wee's concern about how Lim, an Economics graduate, is identified as a certified accountant, Pua pointed out that every university has its own conventions in naming degrees.

"Having a 'Bachelor of Economics' degree does not mean that Lim didn't study Accountancy (or he wouldn't have qualified for the Australian Society of Accountants). Certain schools grant accountancy programmes as 'Bachelor of Commerce' etc.

'And just so that Wee doesn't repeat his boo-boo any time in the near future, Oxbridge universities grant only 'Bachelor of Arts' degrees for undergraduates regardless of the subject of study. That means whether you graduated in law or physics or economics, you will get a BA (Hons)," Pua said.

According to Pua, Lim did not personally reply to Wee as the matter was "too frivolous" for the minister to address.

Asked whether Lim is considering taking legal action against those questioning his credentials, Pua said there is a possibility, and the minister reserves the right to do so.

Pua refused to answer questions posed at the press conference, as he had been advised against it by Lim's lawyers, as the matter may go to court soon.

Pua then asked for Wee to "come clean" on the extent of his party's involvement in the 1MDB scandal instead.  - Mkini