JELEBU: Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng could face civil or criminal action if he refuses to make an open apology to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over a statement calling the arrest of a state exco as “illegal”.

MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said this in response to Lim’s statement that the arrest of state exco Phee Boon Poh was an “illegal arrest”.

Dzulkifli said MACC had so far not received any apology from Lim.

“We had asked Guan Eng to retract his statement and make an open apology within a stipulated period. If he does not do that, then we have to look at what action can be taken, whether civil or criminal,” he told reporters here today.

Yesterday, MACC said Guan Eng must issue an open, unconditional apology to the commission within 48 hours from the time the statement was issued, or legal action would be taken.

MACC said it regarded Guan Eng’s statement on Phee’s arrest as defamatory and meant to smear the good name of the commission.