Fahmi: What will DAP do with the RM1mil?

When bail returned after trial, will DAP use the money for a fund to help other activists facing trial in future, says man behind the 'clown-face' posters.

PETALING JAYA: Graphic artist Fahmi Reza, the man behind the clown-face posters of Najib Razak, has posed a question to DAP of what they intend to do with the RM1 million raised from the public as bail for Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim is also secretary-general of the DAP.

Fahmi pointed out in a Facebook posting last night that bail was usually returned to a surety after a trial ends.

“My question is, will the RM1 million bail donated by the people be returned to each donor after Lim’s trial? If not, will this money be channeled into a fund to help bail out other activists who may be tried in court in the future?” he said.

Fahmi’s question was hailed by some commenters as a pertinent point, agreeing that the money should go into a fund to provide bail for other activists.

However, there were also questions about why DAP had gone ahead with the public appeal for donations when the party had posted bail, while others felt that most donors would not feel a need for the donations to be returned.

Yesterday Penang DAP chairman was reported as saying that the party had received more than RM1 million in donations. He was quoted as saying that Penang DAP had posted RM890,000 with DAP national headquarters paying the rest.

Lim faces trial on two corruption charges relating to the purchase of his bungalow in Jalan Pinhorn for RM$2.8 million, and one charge about agricultural land in Balik Pulau being rezoned for commercial use.

The woman who sold Lim the bungalow, Phang Li Khoon, was also charged over both issues.

The public appeal was launched on Thursday by DAP vice-chairman Zairil Khir Johari.