KL opposition MP appeals conviction

KL opposition MP appeals conviction

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): A Malaysian opposition lawmaker appealed against his conviction for sedition yesterday and said he would sue if an election was held prematurely for the parliamentary seat he stands to lose.

Lim Guan Eng, deputy secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party, said he was the rightful member of parliament (MP) for the Kota Melaka district in southwestern Malacca state until the court ruled on his appeal.

"I wish to warn ... that I will sue the Election Commission should they take any steps to declare the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat vacant and hold a by-election immediately," he said in a statement.

He was reacting to press reports quoting Election Commission chairman Harun Din on Wednesday as saying that "preparations" were being made to hold a contest for the seat.

Lim was convicted on April 28 for publishing a pamphlet entitled Ceramah Kisah Benar (The True Story), which prosecutors said contained false information on a sex scandal involving a schoolgirl and former chief minister of Malacca.