But Lim said despite “MACC’s bias” towards the government, he had instructed exco members to cooperate fully, as the Penang government had nothing to hide.
Lim said he was surprised by the way information about the questioning was “leaked” to the press.
“What is the MACC doing? Why are you trying to frame the state government? If you want to investigate, you are supposed to investigate independently.
“Are you carrying out an independent investigation or political persecution? I know when I say this they will take action against me. I will wait,” Lim told reporters at his office in Komtar today.
It is believed that Public Works Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng and Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy were asked to give their statements to MACC.
MACC has not released any official statement.
On his claim of “leaked sources”, Lim said while most news reports quoted “sources”, a New Straits Times (NST) reporter had admitted at a press conference recently that the “source” was from MACC.
“Remember there were news reports claiming kickbacks were paid to the state government… I asked one NST reporter at a press conference, he said the source (of the kickback story) was the MACC.
“It appears this is the secret weapon of the BN, to run down the Penang government with baseless allegations, with sources all supplied by the BN. I think this is ridiculous and a disgrace,” Lim said.
Lim said in contrast, the MACC was quick to lodge a police report when an investigation into an allegation of corruption against Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin was leaked.
“MACC is not behaving professionally, but behaving politically,” he claimed.