No protest, but DAP to go on roadshow

The “Support, Sympathy and Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng” roadshow is to tell the public graft charges are to destabilise the Penang Government.

KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP is not planning to hold a street demonstration to protest against the corruption charges levelled against its leader, Lim Guan Eng.

This is despite the massive show of support by Penangites who gathered outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) Penang headquarters the night Lim was arrested.

“I saw Malay women hugging and crying. I saw Malay men with skull caps hugging and crying. It was something I have never seen before.

“And we didn’t even organise the gathering. They came on their own volition because they know the State Government is clean. They know how it’s like to live under a clean government.

“So although we are not calling anyone to come down to the streets and protest, don’t underestimate the public’s spontaneity,” said Lim at the party’s headquarters here today.

The DAP Central Working Committee, however, decided to form a national committee to demonstrate “Support, Sympathy and Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng” and will soon go on a roadshow nationwide.

This, said Lim, who is also the Penang chief minister, was to explain that the charges against him were merely an attempt to destabilise the Penang Government.

The road show will also work towards shifting public focus back onto the financial scandals surrounding Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Government, added Lim.

He will be meeting all Penang DAP representatives at the Dewan Sri Pinang complex at 10am this Sunday, to kickstart the campaign.

Lim was charged under Sect 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act for allowing an application to rezone a piece of land owned by businesswoman Phang Li Khoon’s company Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd (MESB); and Sect 165 of the Penal Code for buying a piece of property below market value.

Many have come to his defence, labelling the charges as part of the Federal Government’s effort to politically persecute its opponents.