It was a rare moment in the State Legislative Assembly last night when maverick politician Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjung Bungah) broached again the subject of limiting the post of chief ministership held by a person to two terms.

Teh also called for state executive councillors who are charged in court to step down, take leave or withdraw from chairing state committees that may be involved in their graft charges until the court decides on the case.

He reiterated that an ombudsman system be set up to keep the state government in check.

Teh also called for “a clear division” among the different branches of government.

“An executive facing trial by the judiciary should step down or take leave,” Teh told reporters later, relating what he said in the state assembly while debating Penang’s Budget 2017, which was tabled by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng on Nov 15.

“But if the executive does not wish to step down or take leave, I hope he or she can take a progressive step further to withdraw from chairing whatever state committees that are involved in the charge against the executive,” Teh added.

This time, the usual ones who would train their guns on Teh, kept silent. It was probably because it was late at night, with few assemblypersons present in the House.

Most were already worn out as they would have to sit a couple of hours more until 11.30pm, having had started the day at 9.30am.

Asked about the silence in the House when he raised the subject, Teh replied, “To you, silence may seem consent, but I don’t know.”

Teh did not mention any name, but admitted that he was referring to his boss, Guan Eng, who is also DAP secretary-general and was slapped with two corruption charges in June.

Guan Eng has claimed trial. His case will be mentioned for the second time in the High Court in Penang on Dec 6.

Lim was charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (MACC Act), which criminalises the use of a public office for personal gratification.

On July 18, Guan Eng was accused of approving the re-zoning of a land from agricultural to housing in favour of Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd.

This had purportedly benefited him and his wife, Betty Chew, although Guan Eng repeatedly denied the claims, saying it was a political persecution by his opponents in BN.

The director of Magnificent Emblem, Phang Li Khoon, who is also the previous owner of Guan Eng’s bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn, was charged along with him.

Guan Eng was also accused of purchasing the two-storey unit for RM2.8 million from Phang, which was allegedly sold at below market value but the duo claimed that it was sold on a “willing seller, willing buyer basis”.

His second charge is under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which bans a public servant from accepting valuables from someone whom the public servant knows is likely to be linked to a public business that he is engaging in.

If convicted, Lim faces a jail term up to 20 years, as well as pay a fine of no less than five times the value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

He will also face a five-year ban from active politics after serving his sentence.