Dewan Sri Penang was filled to the brim with people wearing colourful red, blue, green and yellow T-shirts in solidarity with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today.

The crowd cheered loudly when Lim walked in about 10.30am with a host of Pakatan Harapan leaders including PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu.

Earlier, at least 3,000 marched to the Esplanade in support of Lim, who was on Thursday slapped with two corruption charges related to the purchase of his RM2.8 million bungalow in Jalan Pinhorn, Penang.

The crowd gathered at 7am and walked for 2km with Lim and a host of Harapan leaders including Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang, Lim's father.

They chanted solidarity slogans "Hidup (Long live) Guan Eng" and "Bebas (free) Guan Eng".

Despite his predicament, Lim managed a few jokes during his speech.

He said BN opponents had been going on and on about Taman Manggis (mangosteen) until he started to "crave to eat the fruit".

"Alas, I was not charged with any case linked to Taman Manggis. The BN is lying again", said the DAP secretary general.

BN had earlier attempted to link the purchase of his bungalow to the sale of state government land in Taman Manggis.

However, Lim was charged instead for chairing the special planning committee meeting which approved the conversion of land from agriculture to residential for company Magnificient Emblem.

Lim's previous bungalow owner Phang Li Koon has 30 percent shares in the company. She was also arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and faces a charge of abetting Lim in allegedly enriching himself.

'Should have taken billions'

Lim said Penangites would be angry if they are ever told to purchase an item without a discount.

"They might even topple the state government for this," he quipped.

"And yet here I am, charged for buying the bungalow at a discount.

"I should have taken billions, as those who have billions in their bank accounts have no case against them

"If I wanted to take a bribe, I would have done that a long time ago, why wait to go to jail twice?"

Lim said he was being incarcerated because BN desperately wanted to recapture the state government.

"Can they do it? Can they do it?"

The audience shouted in response, "No."

'Now Lim, who's next?'

Taking her turn to speak, Wan Azizah urged everyone in the hall to go forth and spread the message that Lim is a victim of political persecution.

"We are merely speaking to the converted. So I appoint each and every one of you to tell others the truth," said a fiery Wan Azizah.

Meanwhie, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said Lim is a political victim and the oppressor would not stop at him alone.

"We wonder who is next? Who is the second, third, fourth and fifth?" he asked.

Deputy Chief Minster I Rashid Hasnon said with this episode, support for Pakatan Harapan in the 14th general election (GE14) may be strengthened.

"Our support was from 33 to 68 percent in 2004 and 2008, and this time in GE14, the percentage may increase to 80 percent," he said.

Rashid also denied talk that he covets taking over the post of chief minister.

"Some mentioned I might take over the CM post if Guan Eng goes on leave," he said.

"I reiterate that we are all under Lim's leadership, and we all still need his leadership in many national polls to come," he said.