Lim Kit Siang

Lim Kit Siang (Chinese: 林吉祥; pinyin: Lín Jíxiáng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lîm Kiat-siâng; born 20 February 1941) is a retired Malaysian politician. Having held the position for a total of 29 years on three separate occasions, he is the longest-serving leader of the opposition, as well the second longest-serving member of parliament in Malaysia. He was also the former secretary-general and national chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, leading it through eight general elections.

Early life and education

Lim was born on 20 February 1941 at Batu Pahat, Johor, British Malaya. His father was from Qinying Village, while his mother was from Zhangtang Village, both located in Dongshan County, Zhangzhou, Fujian, in China. The youngest of four children, Lim's parents gave their eldest daughter to a farmer in Qinying for adoption before immigrating to Malaya and giving birth to Lim. He had one sister and two brothers. Lim visited his ancestral village of Qinying for the first time in November 2008, meeting his brother-in-law.

Lim spent two years studying at a Mandarin-language night school before transferring to Batu Pahat High School, graduating with 5 As in his Cambridge School Certificate of Education examination. Lim was admitted to the English College Johore Bahru to continue his sixth form studies but dropped out after two months to marry his wife, Neo Yok Tee, at the age of 19. The pair had met when they were 15 but their marriage was not approved by Lim's parents, who had wanted him to become a doctor, and disowned him.

He gained employment teaching English at the Senai Chinese Primary School before working as a reporter for The Straits Times and Singapore Radio in Singapore, where he would live until 1965. During this time, he became the secretary-general of the Singapore National Union of Journalists at the age of 22 and came into contact with Devan Nair, then head of the National Trades Union Congress.

He pursued a legal education his at London University, earning a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), and was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1977.

Political career

Upon the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965, Devan Nair, who was also the member of parliament for Bungsar in Malaysia, left Singapore to return to the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur and offered Lim a position as his political secretary, which he accepted. A founding member of Nair's new Democratic Action Party, he was made the editor of the party's publication; The Rocket, and appointed National Organising Secretary in 1966.

Lim was elected the member of parliament for Bandar Malacca in the 1969 Malaysian general election, which saw substantial gains made by multi-racial opposition parties such as the DAP. The results of the election and subsequent reaction led to the 13 May incident, a racial riot in Kuala Lumpur. Lim was named by the government as a suspected instigator arrested under the Internal Security Act, which allowed for indefinite detainment. Upon hearing the news of his impending arrest, Lim had initially fled to Singapore but returned on 15 May. He was denied access to a lawyer or his family for the first of two months he was held in solitary confinement, and Lim claimed the authorities tried to break him down psychologically. He was only freed on 1 October 1970 after 16 months.

His election as a member of parliament for Bandar Malacca was initially held to be void because of the ineligibility of an election agent who had previously failed to discharge his duties from standing for election in the future.[clarification needed] The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdul Razak Hussein, moved a motion in Parliament to prevent Lim from serving as an MP, granting him instead a period of time to request a royal pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King). After receiving a royal pardon, Lim was allowed to retain his seat.

In 1979, he was convicted of five charges under the Official Secrets Act for exposing an arms deal between the Malaysian government and a Swiss company.

He led the party as secretary-general until 1999 when he was elected party chairman, succeeding Chen Man Hin. In 2004, he refused re-appointment as the chairman and Karpal Singh was elected to replace him. Lim was then elected to an advisory role as the leader of a newly created body called the "Policy and Strategic Planning Commission". His son, Lim Guan Eng, became secretary-general of the party during this time.

After winning a parliamentary seat from Ipoh Timor during the 2004 general election, which also saw his party clinching the most seats of any opposition party, Lim became the Parliamentary Opposition Leader.

Lim contested and won in the constituency of Gelang Patah against Barisan Nasional heavyweight and former Menteri Besar of Johor Abdul Ghani Othman in the 2013 general election.

On 22 October 2015, Lim was suspended for six months from parliament for insulting the speaker, Pandikar Amin Mulia. Earlier, he had stated that Pandikar was abusing his powers by ruling that the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) could not continue its ongoing investigation into 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal (1MDB) due to the transfer of four PAC members to the Cabinet. Pandikar had insisted that Lim apologize and withdraw his statement against him. However, Lim did not apologise or retract his remarks.

Over the course of his parliamentary career, Lim has represented eight federal constituencies.

• Bandar Malacca, Melaka (1969–1974)
• Kota Melaka, Melaka (1974–1978)
• Petaling, Selangor (1978–1982)
• Kota Melaka, Melaka (1982–1986)
• Tanjong, Penang (1986–1999)
• Ipoh Timor, Perak (2004–2013)
• Gelang Patah, Johor (2013-2018)
• Iskandar Puteri, Johor (2018-2022)

Lim has also served as a state assemblyman in Melaka and Penang during the following periods: Kubu, Melaka (1974–1982); Kampong Kolam, Penang (1986–1990); and Padang Kota, Penang (1990–1995).

Leader of the opposition

Lim was leader of the opposition for 18 months from January 1973 to July 1974, succeeding Asri Muda, and again from November 1975 to November 1999, before being losing his seat in the 1999 general election. He became opposition leader again from March 2004 to March 2008.

Retirement

Lim announced his retirement from politics on 20 March 2022, citing old age. Newly elected Democratic Action Party secretary-general Anthony Loke had originally intended to appoint him as the party's "mentor", but Lim declined the position.

After Lim's retirement, he was bestowed the federal honorific title Tan Sri in 2023 and Penang state title Dato' Seri Utama in 2024.

Personal life

He is married with 4 children. He is the father of Lim Guan Eng, the incumbent national chairman of the Democratic Action Party, as well as Lim Hui Ying, the Deputy Minister of Finance.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

• Malaysia Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2023)
• Penang Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of State (DUPN) – Dato' Seri Utama (2024)

Timeline

• 1941: Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, British Malaya
• 1966: National Organising Secretary of the DAP (1966 to 1969).
• 1969: Elected Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka (1969–1974); Promoted to Secretary-General of DAP; Detained under the Internal Security Act for 18 months.
• 1974: Elected Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka, and State Assemblyman for Kubu, Melaka (1974–1978).
• 1978: Elected Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya (1978–1982);
• 1979: Convicted of five charges under Official Secrets Act for exposing an arms deal between the government and a Swiss company.
• 1982: Elected Member of Parliament for Kota Melaka (1982–1986).
• 1986: Elected Member of Parliament for Tanjong, and State Assemblyman for Kampong Kolam, Penang (1986–1989).
• 1990: Elected State Assemblyman for Padang Kota, Penang (1990 -1995).
• 1999: Lost the election; Elected Chairman of DAP.
• 2004: Elected Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur, led the opposition in parliament; Led the party's parliamentary caucus in the newly created position of Chairman of the Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission.
• 2008: Incumbent and re-elected as Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur. Post of Leader of Opposition succeeded by Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
• 2013: Contested in Gelang Patah Parliament Seat against Menteri Besar of Johor Abdul Ghani Othman, and won.
• 2018: Elected Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri.
• 2022: Retired from politics.
• 2023: Bestowed with the honorific title of Tan Sri during the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s formal 64th birthday celebrations.

Books

1. Time Bombs in Malaysia (1978)
2. DAP and Labour Issues (1978)
3. Malaysia in the Dangerous 80s (1982)
4. Constitutional Crisis in Malaysia (1983)
5. This Day in the Last 18 Months (1983)
6. The BMF Scandal (1984)
7. Harris Salleh – Politics & Morality (1984)
8. Human rights In Malaysia (1985)
9. Malaysia – Crisis of Identity (1986)
10. BMF – The Scandal Of Scandals (1986)
11. The North-South Highway Scandal (1987)
12. Prelude To Operation Lalang (1990)
13. The Dirtiest General Elections In The History of Malaysia (1991)
14. Selected Speeches & Press Statements – Vol. I (1991)
15. Samy Vellu and MAIKA Scandal (1992)
16. Battle For Democracy (1992)
17. Vijandran Pornographic Videotape Scandal II (1992)
18. The Highland Tower Tragedy (1994)
19. Pendedahan Skandal Kewangan – Siapa Petualang FELCRA? (1994)
20. Land Acquisition Act – Abuses, Injustices, Reform (1994)
21. I.T. For All (1997)
22. Cyberlaws in Malaysia (1997)
23. Economic & Financial Crisis (1998)
24. Political & Economic Crisis in Malaysia (1998)
25. The Budget That Was Never Passed (1999)
26. Constitutional Case of the Millennium (2000)
27. BA & Islamic State (2001)
28. No To 929 (2002)
29. DAP (2004)

Notes and references

Other references

• Pillai, M.G.G. (1 November 2005). . Malaysia Today.

External links