The DAP’s 50th anniversary dinner saw party leaders pledging their support and solidarity with secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, in the face of his two graft charges.
Despite the reputation crisis facing the DAP, approximately 3,000 supporters turned up for the dinner at the Spice Arena in Bayan Baru last night.
The dinner also managed to collect RM12,144.30 in cash donations.
Before the dinner ended, the crowd was asked to carry placards in support of Lim, while they shouted, "Lawan Tetap Lawan" (fight to the end).
In his speech, Lim thanked his supporters who have stood by him and the DAP, regardless of all the obstacles faced in the party's 50 years of struggle.
“I am touched that all of you believe in me, believe that kami tak makan wang (we do not steal money).
"I want to thank you for this belief that we are clean, and we will stay clean for the future of Malaysia,” the Penang chief minister said to loud cheers from the crowd.
“Fifty years of resistance, borne out of hope and idealism, 50 years of suffering, 50 years of struggle and 50 years of faith.
"All to defend the basic principle that Malaysia can be better,” he said.
Check and balance
As an opposition party, Guan Eng said, DAP did not betray the hopes of the people, in providing a check and balance to BN.
In leading the state government in Penang since 2008, the chief minister said much transformation had taken place.
These changes can be seen in the upgrading of Komtar, which the state administrative building, while markets, hawker centres, and community halls have been renovated and beautified.
“If we cannot transform the state and young people do not want to stay here, we have failed. If we want to be an international city, we have to be the first in many things,” he added.
Lim said Penang was successful under the Pakatan Harapan government as it governs based on three principles - integrity, humility and being consultative.
“We do not pretend to know everything, we will consult experts when we embark on any development plans,” he added.
Guan Eng continued to pledge his support for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, saying he is still Pakatan Harapan’s choice for prime minister.
“All Malaysians, regardless of race, will reject a corrupt prime minister, and will support a clean leader,” Guan Eng maintained.
Other speakers included Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, state DAP deputy chief Jagdeep Singh Deo, MPs Lim Kit Siang (Gelang Patah), Tony Pua (Petaling Jaya Utara), PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, and Parti Amanah Negara vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
On Sept 30, Guan Eng's corruption case will be mentioned at the Penang High Court.
Lim’s first charge is under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 (MACC Act), which criminalises the use of a public office for personal gratification.
On June 30, he claimed trial to the charge of having converted a plot of land from agricultural to residential zone, belonging to Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd, where businesswoman Phang Li Khoon is a shareholder.
He was charged using his position as a civil servant and as the chief minister of Penang, to gain inducements for himself and his wife Betty Chew.
In July last year, Guan Eng purchased a two-storey bungalow on Jalan Pinhorn from Phang, allegedly below market value, which is an offence for a public official.
Phang was also charged under Section 109 of the Penal Code, together with Section 165 of the same Act which carries a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both, upon conviction.
Guan Eng has denied the charges, saying that the land conversion was rejected by the Penang Island City Council, and that the bungalow was purchased based on a “willing seller, willing buyer” basis. -Mkini
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