To resign or to take leave? That is the question everyone has been asking of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, ever since he was charged with corruption on Thursday.

Lim's father, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, plans to find out the answer to that question in a nationwide tour.

"I will tour the country to hear views whether Guan Eng should resign as Penang chief minister or take leave facing corruption charges by Prime Najib Abdul Razak's government.

"Or (should he) remain in his post and not bow down to high-handed forces and pressures in his latest battle against political persecution," the elder Lim said in a statement today.

This is despite the DAP central executive committee unanimously deciding that Guan Eng need not take leave yesterday.

DAP and the opposition argue that it is not necessary for Guan Eng to abandon the chief minister’s post, as he could not influence the judiciary or authorities.

Critics from BN, as well as anti-graft body C4, however, argue that it should be done as a matter of principle.

Guan Eng is accused of having abused his power to approve the rezoning of agriculture land for housing, to the benefit of a firm owned by his landlord Phang Li Koon.

He was also charged for allegedly purchasing the bungalow he was renting from Phang for below market price.

The DAP secretary-general pleaded not guilty to both charges.