KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was charged with two counts of corruption on Thursday, need not take leave from his post, the opposition Democratic Action Party's (DAP) central executive committee said.

"There is no question of conflict of interest as Lim has no influence or control over the prosecution," the committee said after a meeting Friday (July 1).

It said that it "expresses its full and unflinching support" for Lim to continue leading the party as its secretary-general.

It said a national committee had been formed to show support, sympathy and solidarity with Lim.

Lim claimed trial to using his position as a public servant to obtain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem to convert two lots of agricultural land in the south-west district for residential purposes during a state planning committee meeting on July 18 in 2014.

Lim also denied another charge of using his position to obtain gratification by purchasing his house from businesswoman Phang Li Koon at RM2.8 million (S$943,333), which was below the property's market value of RM4.27 million on July 28 last year.

Phang, 44, was slapped with an abetment charge for allegedly selling the bungalow on Pinhorn Road to Lim at below its actual market value.