Gan: Lim must prove MCA election funds came from 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR: Lim Kit Siang must use the law to prove that MCA's election funds were from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), says lawyer Gan Ping Sieu (pic).

Gan says Lim should stop confusing the public by alleging that MCA's election funds came from the scandal-hit 1MDB.

"You (Lim)  are in the government now. If you think there is something against the law, please take action," he told reporters at Wisma MCA here on Monday (Oct 22) morning after launching his party election manifesto.

Gan is contesting the presidency in the Nov 4 polls.

On Sunday (Oct 21), Lim asked MCA leaders if the party should set the example of returning RM16.5mil allegedly received from 1MDB to public coffers.

Lim alleged that former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had never denied that RM470mil from his personal banking account had been given to Barisan Nasional parties in the 13th general election in 2013.

Lim alleged that out of the RM470mil, RM417mil went to Umno, RM16.5mil (MCA), RM20mil (MIC), RM3.5mil (SUPP) and RM300,000 (Gerakan). 

While much of election funds were used for charity, Gan said MCA would nevertheless return the money provided Lim can prove, via the legal process,  that MCA's election funds were from 1MDB.

He reminded Lim, the Iskandar Puteri Member of Parliament, that the people had voted him and the Pakatan Harapan into the government in GE14 to make life better for them.

"The (government) administration must do its job to tackle the high costs of living and low earnings that plague the rakyat," Gan pointed out. 

On the MCA elections, Gan and Tee Siew Kiong, who is vying for the deputy president's post, and others in their team who are contesting the four vice-president posts and 25 central committee member posts are pushing for change in the 69-year-old MCA.

The manifesto themed "Be brave to change" comprises three reform pillars - political roadmap, management of party assets and utilisation of resources, and organisational reform. 

The Gan-Tee team will contest against Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon are going for the post of president and deputy president respectively.