THE RM1 million bail which former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng paid for his Jalan Pinhorn bungalow graft case two years ago will be donated to the Penang Future Foundation (PFF), a scholarship programme set up by the state government.

The money, a total of RM1.038 million inclusive of interest, will be used to give full scholarships to deserving Malaysian students pursuing their undergraduate studies in the country.

Penang DAP deputy chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the party was thankful to Malaysians who had contributed to the donation drive to raise the RM1 million bail for Lim when the latter was charged with graft in 2016.

The people, he said, had not just contributed to the state government during those dark hours, but also done their part for a new Malaysia.

“DAP decided to channel the bail money to PFF to give young Malaysians incentive and encouragement to emulate the sacrifices made by Lim.”

In early September this year, Lim, now finance minister, and his former landlady Phang Li Khoon were both acquitted of graft charges over the sale of the Jalan Pinhorn bungalow.

Lim was accused of using his position to seek gratification by buying the bungalow from Phang at RM2.8 million when the property’s market value was said to be RM4.27 million on July 28, 2015 – an offence under Section 165 of the Penal Code.

Phang was charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code for abetting Lim on July 28 last year in relation to his house purchase.

Lim was also accused of using his position to obtain gratification for himself and his wife Betty Chew by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land to residential use during a state planning committee meeting on July 18, 2014 – an offence under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act. Phang was reportedly a Magnificent Emblem director.

Jagdeep also said the foundation and its scholarship programme, which has benefited some 300 youths since 2015, would help position Penang as a talent hub, and a family-focused, smart and green state.

“The state government is concerned about brain drain and loss of talent. As the second smallest state that also lacks commodities and natural resources, our main assets are our local talents.

“Because we have the talent, we have managed to record the third highest gross development product among states in the country last year,” he said. – November 16, 2018.