DAP has received smaller donations for its 14th general election campaign as donors fear getting hounded by the Inland Revenue Board, said Lim Guan Eng.

The party secretary-general said there is a significant decrease in donation figures this time around compared with the 2013 polls, with IRB pestering businesses.

“The department has really hounded them. When we (Pakatan Harapan) go up (to Putrajaya), we will reform the board.

“It is a disgrace. The department should ensure equal treatment,” he told reporters after addressing a large crowd at the Ng Yam Huat hall in Bukit Mertajam.

“If they want to get money for the government, they should not hound small, honest businessmen. Go after the big fish, the sharks, not the ‘ikan bilis’ (anchovies), the small businesses like hawkers.

“They should go after Jho Low. They can easily get a billion or two from him,” he said, referring to 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal-linked businessman Low Taek Jho, whose name is often mentioned at PH ceramah.

Lim, who is also PH deputy president and caretaker Penang chief minister, said there is also a drop in public donations, as people’s savings have taken a hit due to the goods and services tax.

He said the smaller donations are a problem, but the party will survive on the “small donations from here and there”.

“We will win not because of money. If it’s just money, then Barisan Nasional would have won hands down already.

“It is not money, but the belief in our principles and what we stand for that will help us win.

“The people also come on their own to our events, not because we give them money. They donate to us instead.”

At its ceramah, DAP sends out donation boxes, often getting a few thousand ringgit from the public.

The ceramah at the Ng Yam Huat hall, which was attended by 2,000 people, saw a collection of RM14,184. – May 6, 2018.