Lim said it was imperative for Sidek, a former chief secretary to the government, to do so after his testimony in the 1MDB trial of Najib Razak raised questions over his integrity.

Sidek told the Kuala Lumpur High Court he understood that 1MDB was set up to raise funds for the Barisan Nasional government and that he became a member of 1MDB’s board of advisers on Aug 30, 2010, receiving a monthly advisory fee of RM30,000 until January 2013, when it was reduced to RM10,000.

He said he believed his appointment as a member of the company’s board of advisers was to “increase” his salary, adding that he had never discussed the problems faced by 1MDB with former prime minister Najib Razak.

Sidek, who was chief secretary from September 2006 to June 2012, said Najib had spoken to him about his income before his appointment and thought his pay was “too little”.

Lim said Sidek received an allowance higher than his official salary for doing nothing as an adviser.

“This is the appropriate time for him to tender his resignation as EAIC chairman,” Lim said in a statement.

Lim was echoing a social media post by former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, who also called for Sidek to resign as EAIC chairman.

He then urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to make a ministerial statement during the July sitting of Parliament to disclose the salaries and allowances of all those who headed government-linked companies (GLCs).

“This would be a great step towards transparency, accountability and public integrity,” Lim said, adding that Malaysia risked regressing in the fight against corruption if it did not “clean up” its GLCs.