Fundraising for Guan Eng ends with nearly RM4m collected

The DAP announced it had collected almost RM4 million in its week-long "Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng" fundraising campaign.

DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua said the campaign intended to raise funds for Lim's RM1.1 million bail but contributors had continued to donate despite an announcement that the target had been met.

The party said the excess funds would be used for the 15th general election.

"Despite announcing that we have received a total of RM2.9 million on Tuesday and the total bail amount set was RM1.1 million, Malaysians continued to donate generously to the campaign," Pua said in a statement.

A total of RM3.947 million was collected at the end of the campaign at midnight yesterday.

"Therefore, Malaysians rallied to the cause to fight not only the trumped-up charges against Lim but also the blatant abuse of power by the Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin Yassin.

"As stated at the launch of the campaign, the funds raised will be used to pay for bail set by the court and any surplus received from the donations will go towards the general election to fight the backdoor government and return the mandate to Malaysians who voted for change in 2018," Pua added.

Lim, who is the DAP secretary-general, had pleaded not guilty to three charges of soliciting bribes and accepting gratification in relation to state-linked projects, including the proposed Penang undersea tunnel, when he was the Penang chief minister from 2008 to 2018.

"Lim has protested his innocence as the purported undersea tunnel contract was awarded by the Penang state government via an international open tender exercise and recommended by senior civil servants from the state and the federal government.

"Furthermore, not a single sen has been paid for the tunnel project as it was scheduled to commence only after 2023 after all condition precedents and regulatory approvals have been obtained," Pua said.

Pua said the DAP is grateful for the generous contribution from "hundreds of thousands" of supporters.

"The response has been incredible and has exceeded all expectations. This goes to show that the people are extremely angry at the brazen political persecution carried out by the powers that be against Lim in a case that bears no merit.

"The overwhelming response has certainly reinvigorated all of us at DAP to continue the fight for a better Malaysia, knowing that recent political setbacks are only temporary in nature, that we will return stronger and better with the continued support of the rakyat," he said.

The fundraising "RM10 per person" campaign was launched on Aug 8. - Mkini