The anti-graft agency has also claimed that the reported assertion was defamatory.
The MACC said that after analysing audio and video clips of Lim’s press conference at his office in Komtar yesterday, he had clearly uttered the words “illegal detainment by MACC” when replying to reporters’ questions about the detention of Phee in regard to an illegal factory in Sungai Lembu, Seberang Perai.
In a statement today, the MACC said it took a serious view of what Lim said and considered it to be malicious slander intended to damage the good name of the agency, as well as tarnish and ruin its reputation.
It said the quote was reported by the New Straits Times yesterday.
The statement said the MACC did not believe that Penang High Court judge Abdul Wahab Mohamed, who revoked a five-day remand order on Phee on Aug 14, stated that Phee’s detention by the MACC was illegal.
“Therefore, Guan Eng is urged to apologise openly without any conditions to the MACC in 48 hours from the issuance of this statement, or legal action will be taken against him,” the statement said.
It added that the agency had filed an appeal against the High Court decision and had released Phee.
“In view of the fact that the appeal has not been resolved and fully concluded in the court, any statement by whatsoever party in relation to the detention is sub judice and can be considered as an act insulting to the court,” the MACC statement said.
Lim made the remark when he denied having any knowledge of a Department of Environment (DoE) letter following its investigation into the illegal carbon processing factory.
The letter had reportedly been issued to the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) and Penanti assemblyman Norlela Ariffin two years ago.
Norlela had questioned the state government on why it had left out other information on the factory during its two previous press conferences over the matter.
“What was revealed by Phee is about the illegal detainment by MACC,” Lim was quoted as saying when asked to respond to Norlela’s questions on why the letter was not released to the public.
“I do not know what she is saying,” Lim added. “This (about the letter) you have to ask Phee.”
In a Facebook posting earlier yesterday, Norlela said the MPSP had sent her a letter that it would demolish the factory, after receiving the said letter from the DoE.
She said she had received a copy of the letter. “And following the DoE’s letter, I received a notification letter from MPSP saying it would demolish the factory,” she said.
“Better yet, why not bring the Penang DoE director to the press conference, since the director had ordered 31 sawdust burning pits to be put out for fear of harming the environment recently?” she added in the post.
The sawdust pit mentioned refers to an old method of harvesting activated carbon, where sawdust is burnt in open pits. The Sungai Lembu factory uses the same system.
The factory has since been sealed by the DoE pending a corruption probe which began two weeks ago.
Penanti rep asks Penang govt to release DoE’s Sungai Lembu report