Guan Eng

Lim Guan Eng, a former Penang Chief Minister and former Finance Minister, is currently involved in ongoing criminal proceedings regarding his tenure in Penang. In a case involving an RM11.6 million foreign workers' hostel project, Lim, his wife Betty Chew, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon are set to stand trial on corruption and money laundering charges. Lim is accused of using his position as Chief Minister to secure the project for a company in which his wife had an interest, allegedly receiving RM372,009 in gratification. The trio’s attempt to strike out these charges was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on June 24, 2026. Separately, Lim is currently on trial regarding the RM6.34 billion Penang undersea tunnel and road construction project. He faces four charges, including using his position to obtain RM3.3 million in gratification and soliciting a 10 percent share of future project profits. He also faces two charges related to the disposal of state-owned land valued at RM208.8 million. These proceedings remain active before the Sessions Court as of July 2026. In 2018, Lim and Phang Li Koon were acquitted and discharged by the Penang High Court regarding previous charges involving the purchase of a bungalow at Jalan Pinhorn and an earlier land conversion case after the prosecution withdrew the charges.