Ex-Malaysian finance minister Lim Guan Eng charged with project bribes

Malaysia charged former finance minister and senior opposition leader Lim Guan Eng with corruption for seeking a bribe on a US$1.5 billion infrastructure project, Reuters reports.
Lim said the charge was "politically motivated."
The charge against Lim, who was minister in the Mahathir Mohamad-led coalition that collapsed in February, comes amid speculation that elections could be imminent due to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's slim majority in parliament.
Lim was charged at a Kuala Lumpur sessions court for seeking a bribe in 2011 to appoint a company to manage an undersea tunnel project in Penang state, which he led as chief minister from 2008 until his appointment as finance minister in 2018.
Lim, who was arrested on Thursday night, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
If found guilty, Lim faces a jail term of up to 20 years and heavy fines. Anti-graft officials have said Lim will face two more charges next week.

"This is a baseless allegation and is politically
motivated," Lim told reporters after being released on bail, adding that he will prove his innocence in court.