Headline Not necessary for DAP to call for elections, says PKR veep MediaTitle Malay Mail Date 12 Jul 2016 Language English Circulation 100,000 Readership 300,000 Section Top News Color Full Color Page No 10 ArticleSize 560 cm² AdValue RM 6,399 PR Value RM 19,197 Not necessary for DAP to call for elections, says PKR veep By Puteri Sabira Ab Ghani [email protected] — Parti Keadilan Rakyat it would only show the party was not serious (PKR) said it is not necessary to call for a in upholding the spirit of democracy," he snap election in as the chief minister said. has the solid support of the public. said if the election took Its vice­president, Dr Xavier Jayakumar, place, DAP would only betray the trust that said he did not see any reason to do so was given by the people. because the DAP has the overwhelming Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) deputy support of the public despite the corruption said any decision on a snap charges against . election that involved the parties in the pact "Hence, to call for a snap election does not had to be discussed first. make any sense," he said. "We will be waiting for the DAP to bring Dr Xavier was commenting on reports up the issue at the next presidential council Penang DAP leaders were mulling over meeting. We will act after we reach a holding a snap election to determine the conclusion," he said. support for the opposition pact and Lim's Universiti Utara (UUM) School leadership. of Politics and International Studies lecturer He said the move would be a waste of Md Shukri Shuib said to hold snap polls to time, money and energy and the outcome of fulfil a personal agenda was a betrayal of the the election would be "fruitless". voters' trust in the state government. "DAP has to think about this deeply as "DAP js obviously not walking the talk. It there are more important issues we need to shows the DAP has put its political interest focus on. A snap election would not benefit above the needs and mandate of the public," the opposition pact. It would only aggrav: he said. the pact's current rocky situation," he said. Shukri said the people might view a snap Dr Xavier said the Opposition need, election as a political game by Pakatan to concentrate on how to be more united Harapan. as the recent by­election results in Sungai "It is not necessary. It could backfire on Besar, , and Kuala Kangsar, , the leadership instead," he said. reflected their supporters' disappointmr Penang Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri with the pact. Zainal Abidin Osman said a snap election "The most important issue now is to get would be a waste of the people's money. our act together and also to ensure straight "It is unreasonable that millions of ringgit fights against the Barisan National (BN) in the next general election," he said. will be spent just to have a referendum PKR vice­president , also because Lim Guan Eng refuses to go on leave known as Tian Chua, said he would leave the or relinquish his position as chief minister matter to the DAP to decide. when he is facing two corrruption charges in "I leave it to them to discuss whether to court," he said in a statement. tiave snap polls. Our principle has always Zainal Abidin asked if Lim was facing aeen consistent to seek justice," he said. a crisis of confidence among Penang Chua said Penang DAP leaders knew be t assemblymen because that would make more the situation in the state and he was confident sense for a snap election to be called. "Is the call to have fresh polls an attempt by they would act in the people's interest. DAP and to divert people's PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim attention from the alleged corruption that Tuan Man said a snap election was not viable could be exposed when Lim goes on trial?" given the current political scenario. he asked. "Guan Eng is innocent until proven guilty, He said DAP should now focus on and if the DAP decides to calf for snap poHs, appointing an acting chief minister and Headline Not necessary for DAP to call for elections, says PKR veep MediaTitle Malay Mail Date 12 Jul 2016 Language English Circulation 100,000 Readership 300,000 Section Top News Color Full Color Page No 10 ArticleSize 560 cm² AdValue RM 6,399 PR Value RM 19,197

instruct Lim to go on leave until the case was settled to protect the integrity of the state government.

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Lim with his supporters after being charged with corruption at the Penang Highr Court on July 1.