Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should consider his options on the investigation against him, including going on leave, former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan said today.

"He should consider his options. The good thing is that he has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate quickly and I would echo that, because this is something that can be investigated quickly," Ambiga told Malaysiakini .

This was her response when asked whether Lim should take leave from his post pending MACC's investigations into his purchase of the bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn in Green Lane, Penang.

Asked to elaborate, Ambiga said there are many options to take in light of such an allegation, one of which is to take leave.

She said Lim should consider this, but expressed hope that the investigations would be concluded quickly to bring clarity to the matter.

Lim is currently under scrutiny after Umno's Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahya accused him of purchasing a bungalow for RM2.8 million last year, which he said is below the market price.

This was purported to be kickback for a 2012 sale of state government land.

The chief minister has denied any wrongdoing, and so has the former owner of the property, Phang Li Koon .

In the meantime, Penang PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden also said Lim should take leave to ensure a swift and transparent investigation.

However, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua said there was no need to do so, unless Lim was charged in court.

Conflict of interest

Meanwhile, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel also said Lim should go on leave - unless he could satisfy public curiosity over the purchase of his bungalow.

“Lim should answer whether there was a conflict of interest in the purchase of the house. Holding an ‘open house’ does not answer the main allegation raised.

“If he is not able to satisfy the people’s curiousity, then he should step aside,” Gabriel ( photo ) told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

On Sunday, Lim had invited the media in Penang to tour his five-bedroom house.

At the same time, Gabriel said, the Youth and Sports Ministry senior officer under investigation for alleged misappropriation of funds amounting to RM100 million should similarly be ordered to go on leave.

“Because this is a case that involves a large amount of public funds, definitely there is a lot of public interest.

“The person who is being investigated should be made to go on leave,” said Gabriel, adding that Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin should have issued a public apology on the matter.