The DAP’s Bukit Mertajam division has landed the party in hot soup, over a letter soliciting donations for a fund-raising dinner on Dec 17.

The state MCA has latched on to this to claim that the DAP-led state government is putting pressure on developers to donate, saying it amounts to abuse of power.

NONEPenang MCA Wanita head Tan Cheng Liang picked up on a developer’s complaint in Sin Chew Daily that he had received a letter from the DAP Bukit Mertajam parliamentary liaison committee (PLC), seeking RM5,000 in sponsorship.

The PLC hopes to raise RM200,000 by selling 150 tables, with tickets priced at RM5,000, 1,000, or 300 per table, or RM30, 100 and 500 per seat.

The developer expressed dissatisfaction, saying that he felt pressured to contribute.

He questioned why the PLC used the names of several DAP leaders - Chong Eng (Bukit Mertajam MP), Michael Tan (Padang Lallang assemblyperson) and Seberang Prai municipal councillor Oon Neow Aun - instead of the division's committee members to sign off the letter.

"Is there a conflict of interest? Why are we specifically asked to donate RM5,000? Shouldn't it depend on the donor?" he also asked.

He said he had recently submitted a project plan to the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) for approval, and feared that the application would be rejected unless he contributes.

"Is the MPSP leaking details of developers to the DAP?" he asked.

Tan, the former Jawi assemblyperson, queried why the letter states the official or elected status of the sender, rather than the party position.

azlan"It appears that the party purposely intended to cause stress to the developers to compel them to donate," she said in a statement.

"This ... inappropriate tactic adopted by the DAP ... confirms suspicions that the MPs, assemblypersons and municipal councillors have abused their authority.”

Tan also asked why the letter specified RM5,000 if voluntary contributions were being sought.

"Where and how did the DAP obtain information on prospective donors? Was there invasion of privacy? These (issues) have yet to be discussed.”

She added that such methods of fund-raising should be stopped.

DAP clarifies

In response, Chong said the party was not forcing anyone to sponsor the dinner and that contributions were purely voluntary.

The RM5,000 referred to the maximum being sought, she said, but contributors were free to decide how much they wanted to donate.

NONE"There is nothing wrong in listing (those) state representatives or councillors who are (also) in charge of donations and ticketing, (or organisation of) the dinner.”

Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow (left) said the details of the developers were obtained from the Residential Housing Association and not from the MPSP.

The Bukit Mertajam division has also sent similar letters to other organisations, he said.

Chow dismissed the notion that approval of project plans would be tied to donations.

"The approval process goes through 14 departments and does not depend on whether or not the developer makes a donation," he added.