THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission today gave Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng 48 hours to apologise over his statements on the detention of state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, or face legal action.

MACC alleges that Guan Eng had said that Phee’s detention was illegal and malicious.

The comments were reported in a news article titled “Sg Lembu illegal factory: Guan Eng claims ignorance over DoE’s letter to MPSP and Norlela” published by New Straits Times today

“After listening to the audio and viewing the video of Guan Eng meeting with the media on August 24 at Komtar, Penang, MACC has found that Guan Eng clearly used the words ‘illegal detention by MACC’ when replying to a reporter’s question in connection with the illegal factory case in Sungai Lembu,” MACC said in its statement.

MACC said Guan Eng’s statement was slanderous with the intention to mar MACC’s good name and reputation.

It said even Penang High Court judge Abdul Wahab Mohamed never said that Phee’s detention was illegal.

“With that, Guan Eng is urged to make an open apology to MACC within 48 hours from the time this statement was made or legal action will be taken against him,” said MACC.

The anti-graft body also stressed that it had filed an appeal against the Penang High Court decision on August 14 to cancelled the remand order on Phee.

“Since the appeal is ongoing, any statement from any parties on the arrest is sub judice and can be construed as contempt of court,” it said.

Wahab on August 14, ruled in favour of Phee and the two bosses of an illegal factory in Bukit Mertajam, which is at the centre of the case.

He agreed that the remand order had contravened Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“They were denied natural justice,” he said, recognising that the three were not allowed to consult their lawyers during the remand proceedings.

Phee, a two-term exco and four-term assemblyman, was placed under remand to assist investigations into allegations that he had used his position for gratification.

He and his colleagues in the state government have denied the allegation.

At the centre of the allegations surrounding Phee are letters he had written in his capacity as environmental exco to postpone enforcement action on the illegal factory.

The factory’s 70-year-old manager Gan Buck Hee and his 37-year-old son Edmund Gan, who was a director, were also in MACC custody under a five-day remand.

After the remand order was granted, their lawyers argued that the remand order was highly irregular, as the registrar had decided on the remand application by MACC without hearing any of the suspects’ lawyers. – August 25, 2017.