Malaysia's former finance minister Lim Guan Eng speaks during a news conference outside Kuala Lumpur High Court in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Aug 7, 2020. (Photo: Agencies)

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng was charged at a Kuala Lumpur court on Friday for allegedly soliciting gratification to help a company secure an undersea tunnel project.

Lim, previously served as chief minister of Penang state from 2008 to 2018, was charged for helping the company to obtain a project in 2011, deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin told the court.

The charge, under the country's anti-corruption laws, provides imprisonment for up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification, upon conviction.

Lim pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail.

Lim served as finance minister in the government led by Mahathir Mohamad since 2018 until Mahathir resigned as Prime Minister this February.