FORMER Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been granted permanent access to his international passport by the Sessions Court, allowing him to travel abroad regularly in his official capacity.
Judge Azura Alwi ruled today that Lim’s bail conditions be amended to accommodate his overseas commitments.
However, she maintained the RM1 million bail amount and imposed a new requirement for Lim to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Penang during the first week of each month until the trial concludes.
Lim’s lawyer, Mohd Haijan Omar, told the court his client had recently been appointed as one of the Honorary Chairmen of the ASEAN-China Association for the Promotion of Industrial Cooperation and Development (ACAPICD), a role which necessitates frequent international travel.
"As one of the Honorary Chairmen of ACAPICD, the applicant (Lim) is required to travel abroad frequently to attend meetings, conventions or international exhibitions," said Mohd Haijan.
"The applicant is applying for a permanent release of his passport, not for holiday purposes, but for official purposes to represent the Malaysian government. His presence is required, as no one else can attend in his capacity. Repeatedly applying for the temporary release of his passport would belittle and embarrass the accused.”
The prosecution objected to the request. Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Yasmin Salleh argued that the risk of flight could not be dismissed, citing the gravity of the charges and the potential penalties.
"The applicant has the opportunity to interfere with prosecution witnesses with the applicant's position as an influential politician. Therefore, a high bail amount with strict conditions, as proposed, is important to warn the accused not to be inclined towards doing so," she said.
She also contended that repeated applications for temporary passport release do not diminish the accused’s dignity, stating it is standard legal procedure for anyone facing criminal charges.
Lim, 64, currently the Member of Parliament for Bagan, is facing multiple corruption charges related to the RM6.3 billion Major Roads and Undersea Tunnel Construction Project in Penang.
According to the amended first charge, he is accused of abusing his position as chief minister to solicit a RM3.3 million bribe from a company owned by businessman Zarul Ahmad between January 2011 and August 2017, at his office in Penang.
The second amended charge alleges that Lim solicited a 10 per cent cut from the project’s prospective profits from Zarul Ahmad in exchange for aiding the company in securing the deal. This offence is alleged to have occurred at a hotel in Mid Valley City, Kuala Lumpur, in March 2011.
Lim also faces two further charges involving the disposal of two parcels of state-owned land in Penang worth RM208.8 million. The alleged offences took place at the Penang Land and Mines Office in Komtar on 17 February 2015 and 22 March 2017.
The case remains ongoing. - October 15, 2025
