GEORGE TOWN: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng should withdraw from contesting in the party's central executive committee (CEC) polls next month, People's Alternative Party (PAP) said.
PAP vice-president Rahmad Isahak said this was in the name of integrity and dignity as Lim was facing corruption charges.
Rahmad, a former DAP member from the Bayan Baru branch, said Lim should also reject any party’s post after the election.
"In the name of integrity and dignity, Lim should not allow himself to contest in the polls although he is in the candidates’ list .
"By withdrawing, he will set an example to other the party members and leaders despite his refusal to relinquish his chief minister's post," he told the New Straits Times today.
Rahmad said it was best for a leader, such as Lim, to raise the moral and elements of integrity, credibility and dignity among DAP delegates.
"Don't give the lame excuse that your (Lim's) name was in the 2012’s list, and as such, it is a must for you to seek re-election based on the instruction of the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
"It is your right to ensure your position from the viewpoint of your dignity as well as that of the party," he added.
Rahmad said it was unlikely for DAP's administration to be disrupted with Lim’s absence in the future CEC line-up.
"We believe that if Lim is able to do all this, then there is likely to be a paradigm shift in terms of the people's support to DAP as well as the opposition in the 14th general election," he added.
In July, RoS instructed DAP to hold a re-election of its CEC, saying that it was necessary as the election of CEC members and key positions via a re-election on Sept 29, 2013, was deemed unlawful.
In 2013, the RoS ordered a re-election of DAP’s CEC after it found irregularities and manipulation of votes by the party in its initial election in December 2012.
After the re-election, there were claims by some party members that they were denied the right to attend the party’s congress as delegates.
On June 30, last year, Lim had claimed trial to two corruption charges at the High Court here.
On the first count, he was accused of having used his position as a civil servant to obtain gratification for him and his wife, by approving an application by Magnificent Emblem Sdn Bhd to convert agricultural land to residential status, while chairing a state Planning Committee meeting on July 18, 2014.
For the second charge, he was accused of using his position to purchase a house from Phang for RM2.8 million, which was a price he knew was below the market value of RM4.27 million, on July 28, last year.
The case is still pending.