Guan Eng To Remain As Dap Chairman

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The DAP will not pursue calls for its newly-elected chairman Lim Guan Eng to step down while waiting for the verdict on his ongoing court cases, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said. - NSTP/ OWEE AH CHUNGEORGETOWN: The DAP will not pursue calls for its newly-elected chairman Lim Guan Eng to step down while waiting for the verdict on his ongoing court cases, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
However he said should there be any changes in circumstances that require the party to do so, the DAP would then "consider" the matter.
"Until now, the position remains the same. Until there is a decision from the court, the party will not pursue the matter," he said in response to a question by reporters during a press conference in Batu Ferringhi here today.
Following the recent DAP central executive committee (CEC) election, Lim's appointment was met with calls for him to resign from his new post given that he was facing corruption charges.
Former Johor DAP chief Boo Cheng Hau said leaders caught in charges or scandals should take the initiative to resign from public office to avoid sending the wrong signal on the party's values to the public.
Boo said if the court found Lim to be innocent, the Bagan member of parliament would be welcomed back to DAP to assume his position.
When pressed further if DAP would want to set a good example to other political parties by making embattled leaders either resign or go on leave, Chow deflected the question.
Instead, he reiterated that the party would consider the matter if there was a need to do so.
Lim was elected as the DAP chairman last Sunday. Previously, he held the secretary-general position for 18 years.
Lim is currently facing corruption charges where he was alleged to have solicited bribes to help a contractor secure the RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project when he was the Penang chief minister in 2011.
Apart from that, he was also charged with wrongfully misappropriating two plots of state land. - NST

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