At a press conference today, PKR treasurer-general Lee Chean Chung said this was to ensure that the MCA vice-president would not abuse the resources at his disposal as deputy minister in the run-up to polling day on Nov 20.

“I ask Lim to show us a leave letter to prove that he has taken leave (as deputy international trade and industry minister) to campaign until Nov 20,” he said.

Other than Lim, deputy law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin is also contesting in the Melaka polls, challenging BN’s Ab Rauf Yusoh and Pakatan Harapan’s Zainal Hassan for the Tanjung Bidara seat.

Earlier, the MCA had slammed Lee’s criticism of Lim for standing for election while holding the post of deputy minister, saying the same standards should apply to PKR’s Paya Rumput candidate Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, who is also the Hang Tuah Jaya MP.

The BN component party also pointed out that PH leaders like former transport minister Loke Siew Fook held seats in the Dewan Rakyat and state assembly. “As such, this is clearly a non-issue,” said the party.

Responding to the MCA’s statement, Lee said the same issue did not arise with Shamsul as MPs were backbenchers in the legislature while Lim’s deputy minister post made him a part of the executive branch of government.

He also said Loke did not contest for his parliamentary and state posts when he was transport minister, but contested for the two seats at the same time during GE14.

“The difference is that Lim is contesting now while he’s holding a position. So, don’t try to mislead the people,” he said.