Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is facing two counts of corruption, should not have burdened the people by allowing a donation drive to raise funds to pay for his RM1 million bail, said a Penang Umno leader.

Penang Umno deputy chairperson Reezal Merican Naina Merican said it was true indeed that Lim did not ask for the donation himself.

“But as a chief minister, Lim should be responsible and use his own money.

“He could have just stopped DAP from making the collection as the prosecution is made against him, not the party,” he added.

Reezal Merican, who is deputy foreign minister, also urged Lim to step down as chief minister and give way for other DAP leaders to take over the post.

Previously, the opposition had been pestering BN leaders who were charged in court to step down from their posts, now Lim should do the same to prove his integrity, he added.

Lim, 56, was charged with using his position as chief minister for his personal interest and of his wife, Betty Chew Gek Cheng, by approving the conversion of a piece of land from agriculture to residential status, and transferring the land to a company, Magnificient Emblem Sdn Bhd.

He was also charged with corruptly obtaining for himself, and his wife, a piece of land and bungalow at No 25, Jalan Pinhorn, George Town, from a businesswoman, Phang Li Koon, at below the market value, for RM2.8 million, when the value of the properties then was RM4.27 million.

On a news portal report which said that Lim would hold an information session with the people at Dewan Sri Pinang in George Town this Monday to explain to them the issue on his prosecution, Reezal Merican said the people should just allow the matter to be decided by the court.

“Let the case be judged in the court, not on the streets,” he added.

It is learnt that the event would also be attended by opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Ismail and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

- Bernama