Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has accepted the retraction and apology from The Star for its article published on July 17, his special legal officer Raja Syarafina Raja Shuib said.

“While the published statements were and remain inaccurate, YAB (Lim) has graciously accepted The Star's retraction and apology. Without which, an amicable settlement would not have been possible between the parties,” she said in a statement.

On Sunday, the English daily published a retraction and apologised to Lim for publishing the article titled 'Snap election for Penang?' by its columnist Joceline Tan.

“We have been informed that the said article contains statements that are inaccurate in relation to the Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Lim Guan Eng.

“We unequivocally retract those statements and apologise for any inconvenience that may have been caused to the chief minister of Penang,” The Star said.

Raja Syarafina said the inaccurate statements made reference to, among others, new charges against Lim relating to the Taman Manggis land issue and insinuations of links with certain individuals as well as improper administrative actions in the state.

She said Lim has been the target of “a concerted and concentrated effort to malign and defame him, with all sorts of preposterous lies to sully his reputation and tarnish his standing amongst the public.

“The ferocity of such lies against him has only intensified with the approaching general election.

"Putting this episode aside, we hope such incidents would not happen in the future.

“Malaysian journalism should strive to be distinctively marked by actual facts and figures, and not embarrassingly marred by irresponsible inaccuracies,” Raja Syarafina added.

Corruption case

Lim had sent The Star a letter of demand over the article on the day it was published.

The July 17 article had quoted sources alleging that a veteran leader mooted the idea of a snap polls during a central executive committee (CEC) meeting on the day Lim was charged in court.

The article also claimed Lim and his father, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, did not favour a snap polls for various reasons.

Lim’s corruption case came up for mention in the High Court in Penang on Sept 30.

His first charge is under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, which criminalises the use of a public office for personal gratification.

On June 30, Lim claimed trial to the charge of having converted a plot of land, belonging to Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd in which businesswoman Phang Li Khoon is a shareholder, from an agricultural zone to residential.

He was charged with using his position as a civil servant and as the chief minister of Penang to gain inducements for himself and his wife Betty Chew.

In July last year, Lim purchased a two-storey bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn from Phang at a below market value price.

Phang was also charged, under Section 109 of the Penal Code, together with Section 165 of the same law, which carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both, upon conviction.

Lim has denied the charge, saying the land conversion was rejected by the Penang Island City Council and that the bungalow was purchased based on a “willing seller, willing buyer” basis.