Slept on wooden floor, no mattress or pillow - Guan Eng recounts night in lock-up

Lim Guan Eng had to sleep on the wooden floor after he was detained overnight in the lock-up of the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.

The former finance minister (above, left) recounted his ordeal in a Facebook post late last night.

He also claimed that his predecessor, Najib Abdul Razak, did not receive the same treatment when the latter was arrested in relation to the SRC International and 1MDB scandals.

“I had to change to the SPRM (MACC) orange T-shirt and slept on the wooden floor in the small lock-up (no pillow, no mattress), unlike my predecessor who did not spend a single night in the lock-up.

“Whether this is double-standard or not, only MACC can answer,” he added.

Meanwhile, the DAP secretary-general said he was upset upon learning that his wife, Betty Chew, was also arrested by the MACC in Penang yesterday, fearing that she too would have to spend the night in the lock-up.

Lim said his wife was detained although she had nothing to do with the Penang undersea tunnel project or government matters.

“I was relieved she was released,” he added.

'They know where it hurts most'

Lim, who had served as Penang chief minister before assuming the post of a federal minister after Pakatan Harapan won the last general election, reiterated his claim of being a victim of political persecution.

“PN (Perikatan Nasional government) going after me with baseless charges is to be expected. After all, this unelected government needs to reinforce its slim parliamentary majority.

“But to go for my wife, who even though a lawyer, does not enjoy a luxurious lifestyle, shows that they know how to hit you where you helplessly hurt most,” he added.

Yesterday, Lim claimed trial to a charge of soliciting a bribe with regard to the RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court. He has since been released on bail.

The opposition leader is also expected to face additional charges on Aug 10 and 11 at the Penang Sessions Court.

Meanwhile, his wife would be charged at the Butterworth Sessions Court on Tuesday under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Amla) Act.

Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki told Malaysiakini that Lim was not the first politician to be detained overnight and defended his officers' action.

He listed Najib as among the prominent politicians who had been detained overnight by the commission before being produced in court, though it is unclear if Najib had also spent the night in a lock-up.

He said the decision to arrest a suspect is up to the discretion of an investigating officer and is provided for under the law. - Mkini