Lim Guan Eng (Chinese: 林冠英; pinyin: Lín Guānyīng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Koàn-eng; born 8 December 1960) is a Malaysian politician and accountant who served as the Minister of Finance of Malaysia from 2018 to 2020.

On 6 August 2020, Lim Guan Eng was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, following weeks of a probe into an RM6.3 billion undersea tunnel project that was green-lit during his tenure as Penang chief minister.

Other senior DAP leaders of Penang such as Lim Hock Seng, Phee Boon Poh, and Chow Kon Yeow were bypassed and were instead appointed state executive council members.

[14] On 28 April 2011, Lim signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China, witnessed by the Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, on the proposal to construct three roads and an undersea tunnel on Penang island.

[19] According to the international weekly news magazine The Economist, the reform of the state government has ended the cronyism and corruption that led to major deficits under the previous regime.

[23] Social welfare aid of RM 100 is awarded annually to senior citizens, single mothers, disabled individuals, new-born babies, and school-going pupils in Primary 1 and 4 as well as Form 1 and 4.

The SMART Centre intends to provide market intelligence, business advice, information, resources and training services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Penang.

[citation needed] On 7 June 2014, Lim donated RM 20,000 to the soup kitchen, The Lighthouse, to assist the organisation's efforts in feeding the homeless and poor.

The scholarship program is administered by the Penang state government but is fully funded by the private sector to ensure its sustainability in the long run.

[32][33][34] On 11 December 2011, Lim initiated the Car Free Day which would be held every Sunday at particular stretches of roads in the interior city of George Town, Penang.

All motor vehicles are prohibited from entering these areas on that day, which are part of Lim's efforts to transform Penang into a sustainable city and fight climate change.

[35] In addition, the state government is also considering a proposal to set up bicycle lanes around Penang island, mainly along coastal areas and Seberang Perai, scheduled to be completed by 2020.

[37] On 1 August 2014, the Penang state government implemented a bicycle sharing system in its effort to transform George Town into a greener and more sustainable city.

Lim believes that the system will alleviate traffic congestion as well as improve visitors' experience by making places accessible without cars and thus support the state government's initiative in a cleaner, greener, safer and healthier Penang.

[39] On 15 November 2011 Penang had hosted an official visit by the Governor General of Canada the Right Honourable David Johnston and the ex-Speaker of the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan for 2 days.

[40][41] Several investment and business delegations have been led by Lim on state visits to Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, Melbourne, Adelaide, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

[48] Besides that, Lim under the Finance Ministry has announced that first-time home buyers will be fully exempted from stamp duty for properties up to RM1 million starting from 1 January 2019.

[51] In 2015, Lim allegedly used his position as then Penang chief minister to gain gratification for himself and his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng, by approving the application for conversion of agricultural land to a public housing zone in Balik Pulau to a company, Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd, owned by Phang Li Koon.

Zarul also informed the court that the company was forced to protect its interests by paying fees to people who claimed to represent the then Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Penang MCA Secretary, Lau Chiek Tan said "Previously, Lim had criticised Barisan Nasional leaders for wasting public funds by bringing their families with them on official trips.

[62] On 20 September 2011, Lim Guan Eng participated in an interview conducted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation where he was reported by the Malaysian news agency, Bernama, to have disparaged the security of the state of Johor.

[63] Lim Guan Eng insisted he never mentioned Johor, and demanded that Bernama retract their story and issue a formal apology, or face a lawsuit.

Lim also expressed concerns that Sarawak might face a situation similar to Kelantan, where he claimed they struggled to cover the salaries of their civil servants due to ineffective administration.

[74] The Sarawak government, through its Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, issued a statement expressing that Lim's remarks not only contain misinformation but also carry political motivations.

[78] As a result of the collaboration between Pakatan Harapan and GPS after the 2022 general election, Lim publicly apologized for his previous remarks that had harmed the reputation of Abang Johari and the Sarawak government.

[81] He has been accused by opposition leaders of fearmongering Penang voters against the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) by intentionally raising the 3R issues (Rulers, race, religion).

[89] On 14 December 2011, Lim won a second defamation suit against Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, which was ordered by the Penang High Court to pay a total of RM200,000 worth of damages and a cost of RM25,000 to him.

[90] On 22 June 2012, Lim won a defamation suit against Utusan Malaysia, which was ordered by High Court to pay a total of RM200,000 worth of damages and RM20,000 in costs to the former.

The plaintiffs stated that Lim, Mkini and Gan had caused the publication of another article "Umno made profits by selling Malay Kampungs", containing defamatory words in Malaysiakini.

[108] In August 2017, Lim filed a suit against New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd (NSTP) for running an article titled "Political Intervention was real, says PAS", which accused him of interfering in Islamic affairs.