According to a tweet by state executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin, an arrest warrant had been issued and Lim will be brought to the MACC headquarters at Northam Road not far away.

About a dozen MACC officers were seen entering various parts of Komtar, in what appears to be a lock-down.

Six men entered his state executive council boardroom, where a regular meeting was ongoing.

Another four men entered later.

Earlier, Guan Eng’s sister Hui Ying, who is also Penang DAP secretary, arrived at his office, plausibly to lend moral support. She appeared worried and had a sombre look.

Guan Eng’s lawyer and Seri Delima DAP representative R.S.N. Rayer was also seen arriving at his office.

Guan Eng is expected to be charged at the Sessions Court here tomorrow, said Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

He is to be charged under Sect 23 of the MACC Act for allowing an application to rezone a piece of land owned by Phang Li Khoon’s company Magnificent Emblem and Sect 165 of the Penal Code for buying a property below market value.

Section 165 stipulates that it is an offence for a public servant to obtain anything without consideration from persons concerned in any proceeding or business transacted by such a public servant.

On the land rezoning issue, Chow said the municipal council had rejected an application by Phang’s company to rezone a piece of land. He did not elaborate further.

“He will be bailed out,” he told reporters.

Chow, who is also local government, traffic management and flood mitigation committee chairman, said the Penang DAP will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss a possible replacement for Lim.

On May 22, MACC officers visited Lim’s home in Pinhorn Road following his controversial purchase of a bungalow below market price. It was later linked to the sale of state land.

In denying the allegations first raised by Umno MP Shahbudin Yahaya, Lim insisted there was no impropriety in the purchase of the property.

The DAP secretary-general clarified that he did not know the market value of the bungalow he bought last year for RM2.8 million as it was based on an verbal understanding between his wife, Betty Chew, and the previous owner, Phang Li Koon, in 2012.

It was purchased by Lim on July 28 last year.

Similar properties in the area are said to be valued at between RM6-RM6.5 million.

Earlier today, speculation was rife that Lim would be summoned to court over the purchase of his bungalow here.

The rumours of the arrest came after MACC’s completion of its probe on May 25 into Lim’s bungalow purchase.