Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng will face civil or criminal action if he refuses to make an open apology within the stipulated period, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said.

He was speaking in response to Lim’s statement that the arrest of state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh was an “illegal arrest”.

So far, the MACC had not received an apology from Lim, he said.

"We had asked Guan Eng to retract his statement and make an open apology within a stipulated period. If he does not do that, then we have to look at what action can be taken, whether civil or criminal,” he told reporters after attending the MACC Visit Programme series 3 at Sekolah Menengah Triang Hilir, Simpang Durian in Jelebu today.

In a statement yesterday, the MACC stressed that Guan Eng must make an open, unconditional apology to the MACC within 48 hours from the time the statement was issued or legal action will be taken against him.

The commission regarded Guan Eng’s statement on Phee’s “illegal arrest” as defamatory and that it meant to smear the good name of the MACC.

- Bernama