KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 6): Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has been arrested and will be facing charges over the RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel, according to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MAAC).

In a statement, the anti-graft agency said it had received consent from the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to prosecute Lim, who is also the former Penang Chief Minister, for offences under the MACC Act. 

The DAP secretary-general and Bagan MP will first be charged under Section 16(a)(A) of the MACC Act tomorrow (Aug 7) morning at the Special Corruption Court at Jalan Duta here. He will then be charged under Section 23 of the same act at the Penang Sessions Court next Monday (Aug 10).

Section 16(a)(A) involves an individual's solicitation or acceptance of gratification as an inducement or reward, while Section 23 involves the abuse of one's position or office for gratification.

“Both charges in the Kuala Lumpur and Penang Courts are related to the Penang undersea tunnel project,” the MACC said.

Lim is also going to be charged for offences under Section 23 for "a different case" in Penang on Tuesday, said the MACC, without divulging further details.
 
Speculation was rife earlier this evening that Lim, who was Chief Minister of Penang between 2008 and 2018, would be arrested over the project. He was later seen turning up at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya around 9.10pm, before the MACC confirmed his arrest.

The MACC had previously called in a number of people for questioning over the project, including current Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and State Executive Councillors Jagdeep Singh Deo, Phee Boon Poh and Chong Eng.