(FMT) – Dr Mahathir Mohamad today defended the decision to drop the corruption charges against Lim Guan Eng, saying they were a form of selective prosecution.

"There has been criticism but as you know the previous government victimised all the opposition (members).

"There are many people who have done what Guan Eng has done but they were not selected (for prosecution)," the prime minister told reporters when asked about criticism against the Attorney-General's Chambers for acquitting the former Penang chief minister.

Several Umno leaders have attacked Attorney-General Tommy Thomas over the acquittal.

 

On Sept 9, former chief justice of Malaysia Abdul Hamid Mohamad questioned Thomas's integrity as an AG, saying it was impossible that the latter did not play a role in Lim's acquittal despite withdrawing as public prosecutor in the case.

However, Mahathir said today that Lim was a target.

"That case is not the same as Khir Toyo's case," he said, referring to critics who compared Lim's corruption charges with the trial of former Selangor menteri besar, Mohamad Khir Toyo.

Khir was jailed 12 months for using his position to purchase land and bungalow units in Shah Alam on Sept 29, 2015.

On Sept 3, Lim and businesswoman Phang Li Koon were acquitted by the High Court in Penang over the purchase of his house on Pinhorn Road at below market value. Lim was the Penang chief minister when he was charged in 2016.