GEORGE TOWN: A report alleging that former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim was offered a post in a state agency that included travel incentives by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has been lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
The report was lodged by Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan at the MACC, here, yesterday.
Huan said the allegation was serious as it involved Lim making an offer to "save DAP's face".
"It is disgusting that the chief minister tried to bribe Tunku Aziz with a position as a senior fellow at Penang Institute.
"I hope the MACC will investigate if there are others from outside Penang who are being paid to sit on state agencies. The people have a right to know if these people were appointed as a reward for something they may have done for DAP."
Nibong Tebal member of parliament Tan Tee Beng said it was corruption and misuse of power if Lim had planned to use government funds to salvage DAP's image over the Tunku Aziz saga.
Aziz was quoted on Tuesday as saying that his decision to quit DAP was hastened after he received a call from Lim on Sunday, offering him a senior fellowship at Penang Institute after his senatorship was not renewed. He had claimed that he was unsure if it was an act of compassion (by Lim) or to compensate him for the loss of the senator's post.
Tunku Aziz also claimed on Monday that Lim's political secretary, Zairil Khir Johari, had called and repeated the offer, along with a stipend of RM50,000.
In a statement yesterday, Lim said he had received Tunku Aziz's resignation letter. He conveyed the party's gratitute for Tunku Aziz's contribution during his four years as DAP vice-chairman.
Zairil, who is Penang Institute chief executive officer, said the offer to Tunku Aziz had been misconstrued.
"It was an opportunity for us to recruit an intellectual with a valuable global network," he said, adding that the standard package for senior fellowship at the institute included a yearly stipend of RM50,000.
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