[UPDATED] Step down from DAP chair until cleared by court, Boo tells Guan Eng

KUALA LUMPUR – Just three days into his appointment as DAP’s new national chairman, calls for Lim Guan Eng’s resignation has mounted from within his own party, citing his ongoing court case on corruption-related charges.

The party’s former Johor chief, Dr Boo Cheng Hau, said that keeping Lim in office risks tarnishing the party’s image heading into the general election and sends a wrong signal on the party’s values.

“I humbly opine that the national chair should step down and let the newly elected central executive committee be free of any baggage in order to lead the party forward, regain public confidence and face the upcoming GE15 with the best standings,” he said in a statement today.

“Allow my humble opinion that leaders facing corruption and criminal charges should not continue to hold any public office until his good self’s court charges are cleared by the court of law,” he said.

Dr Boo argued that allowing leaders with criminal charges to lead the party meant it would be difficult to maintain DAP’s principles and core values, affecting its image in the public’s eyes.

Rather than harp on the rhetoric of “political persecution” to gain public sympathy, he said Lim should just step down if he truly loved his party.

“Our party mentor (and Lim’s father, Lim Kit Siang) should advise our chairman to relinquish his post to avoid putting the party’s values on trial. I believe a decisive resignation from his post is actually good for his and the party's image.”

Lim, who has served as DAP secretary-general for three terms, was appointed as national chairman during the party’s election last Sunday, with Anthony Loke Siew Fook succeeding him in his previous post.

Lim is facing graft charges over the controversial RM6.3 billion Penang undersea tunnel project, for allegedly soliciting gratification and receiving financial inducement during his tenure as the state’s chief minister.

Dr Boo stressed that DAP cannot allow its credibility to crumble due to the “mistakes” of a few prominent leaders.

“We must remember that it is the chairman who is individually being charged for corruption without involving the whole party.

“In accordance with the principles of law, the national chairman is innocent until proven otherwise in court. If he is proven innocent in court, he shall be welcome back to recover his party post.”

On the same note, Dr Boo said the party’s national deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo should also recuse himself from acting as the counsel to Lim to avoid any conflict of interest, especially if he needs to temporarily take over the position of chairman. – The Vibes, March 23, 2022