No need to step down, Penang DAP tells Guan Eng

Penang DAP committee launches donation campaign to raise RM1 million for embattled Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's bail following his corruption charge at the High Court today.

GEORGE TOWN: There is no need for Lim Guan Eng to step down as Penang Chief Minister as the corruption charge is merely a form of political persecution, Exco member Chow Kon Yeow said.

The state DAP chairman explained that despite the two charges levelled at its secretary-general, the Penang DAP committee found Lim to be innocent.

“For that reason, the state DAP committee decided that there is no necessity for Lim to resign as Penang CM or to take leave from his responsibilities as the state’s chief executive.

“We would like to assure Penangites that business in the state government would be as usual and would not be affected by the corruption charge,” Chow said at a press conference.

He also said an emergency meeting for the Central Executive Committee would be convened tomorrow at DAP’s headquarters Kuala Lumpur at 11am.

Chow, however, did not elaborate why the meeting would take place, but said it would be on Lim’s charges.

Earlier this morning, Lim and his former landlord, Phang Li Khoon, were in the dock for their alleged involvement in rezoning an agricultural land and purchase of a below-market-price bungalow at Pinhorn Road. Both pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

Meanwhile, at the same press conference, Penang DAP Vice-Chairman Zairil Khir Johari said a special fundraiser to collect funds to pay Lim’s bail was launched.

Zairil said the committee found Lim’s bail to be “excessive” and DAP supporters felt the same way.

“We have been asked by many who wanted to contribute towards Lim’s bail.

“By right, a bail amount should be set so that the person does not abscond from a court hearing, but this is too much. And we all know Lim does not run away,” the Bukit Bendera lawmaker added.

Zairil called on supporters to donate to the fund by banking in to their Maybank account: “DAP Penang – 5070 1301 4596″.

Chow explained that Lim’s bail was posted using money from Penang DAP’s own funds, topped up by the DAP headquarters.

“We only have RM890,000 balance in our account. So the national treasurer topped up with another RM110,000.
“From the donations, we can pay the DAP HQ the balance and restore our accounts,” Chow said.