Donation drive for Pua vs Syabas appeal hits target

DAP has managed to exceed its targetted RM100,000 for national publicity secretary Tony Pua's damages in Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor's (Syabas) defamation suit.

Dubbed ‘RM1 for Water Rights: 100,000 Malaysians Support Tony Pua vs Syabas’, the public was invited to donate RM1 each to the party’s account to help Pua foot the damages.

DAP’s Facebook announced today, “The support of all Malaysians in the Tony Pua vs Syabas campaign has been nothing less than fantastic!

“The total amount collected as of 4pm, July 11, 2012 (Wed): RM118,038.

DAP launched the drive just a week ago, starting with an online campaign to raise the first RM100,000 and a fundraising dinner on July 17 for the balance.

Syabas filed a defamation suit against Pua in Jan 28 last year over the latter’s remarks made in the course of the Selangor government’s efforts to regain control over the state’s water resources from the hands of private concessionaires.

On June 6, Kuala Lumpur High Court found Pua liable and ordered him to pay damages of RM200,000, while he filed an appeal on June 22.

“We are now looking to achieve the balance of the funds by Syabas's July 16 deadline (for payment of damages) via our fund-raising dinner,” said DAP's posting.

It added that Pua is obliged to pay up first, despite the filing of the appeal.

The party said if Pua succeeds in his appeal, the unused funds collected will instead be channelled to DAP’s general election preparation fund.