EVERY minister needs to be cleared of all charges against them to be sworn in, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

The Pakatan Harapan chairman said that even DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was named as finance minister, would need to be cleared before being sworn in.

“He has not been sworn in, but was named. We will clear every minister. We will make sure,” Dr Mahathir said at a press conference today in Putrajaya.

“We need to follow the rule of law. Once he (Lim) is cleared of all charges, then only can he be sworn in as minister.”

Dr Mahathir added that he would be temporarily taking over the finance portfolio from Lim.

“I am not actually taking charge at the moment, but they will report to me. We have a panel that will look into the work of the Finance Ministry.

“Some implementation will be carried out, but the rest will have to wait for the minister,” he said.

Lim, who was the former Penang chief minister, is facing graft charges for alleged misuse of power during his two terms. – May 14, 2018.