DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng can only be sworn in as finance minister if the law allows it, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
The prime minister was responding to lawyers’ concern that Lim’s appointment may influence the Penang High Court in the matter of the latter’s ongoing criminal trial.
“He was appointed but has yet to take the oath. He is not a minister yet,” Mahathir, who is also Harapan chairperson, told a press conference when asked if Lim should clear his name before his appointment.
“We need to be clear that every minister appointed must be qualified. One cannot be appointed when he or she has a case,” he said.
The government will observe the rule of law and was thus waiting for an internal report on whether Lim’s swearing-in could proceed, he added.
“We have to follow the rule of law. If the law says a man has to be cleared of any charges before he can be a minister, then (we have to) wait,” said Mahathir.
“We will only decide if he can take oath after we receive the report,” he said.
Lim was one of three cabinet ministers that Mahathir named to his cabinet yesterday.
The new finance minister is currently on trial for corruption over the purchase of his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow in Penang from businessperson Phang Li Koon, allegedly at a below market price.
He has rubbished the charge as being politically motivated.
– M’kini
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