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Lim Kit Siang

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Lim (林).
Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato' Seri Utama
Lim Kit Siang
PSM DUPN
林吉祥
Lim in 2013
Leader of the Opposition
In office
21 March 2004 – 8 March 2008
Monarchs
Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
Preceded byAbdul Hadi Awang
Succeeded byWan Azizah Wan Ismail
In office
5 November 1975 – 29 November 1999
Monarchs
See list
Prime Minister
Preceded byEdmund Langgu Anak Saga
Succeeded byFadzil Noor
In office
17 April 1973 – 24 August 1974
MonarchAbdul Halim
Prime MinisterAbdul Razak Hussein
Preceded byMohamed Asri Muda
Succeeded byJames Wong
2nd National Chairman of the
Democratic Action Party
In office
3 December 1999 – 4 September 2004
Secretary-GeneralKerk Kim Hock
Preceded byChen Man Hin
Succeeded byKarpal Singh
3rd Secretary-General of the
Democratic Action Party
In office
1 October 1970 – 3 December 1999
National ChairmanChen Man Hin
Preceded byFan Yew Teng (acting)
Succeeded byKerk Kim Hock
Federal parliamentary seats
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Iskandar Puteri
In office
9 May 2018 – 19 November 2022
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byLiew Chin Tong
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Gelang Patah
In office
6 May 2013 – 9 May 2018
Preceded byTan Ah Eng
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Ipoh Timor
In office
21 March 2004 – 5 May 2013
Preceded byThong Fah Chong
Succeeded byThomas Su Keong Siong
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Tanjong
In office
3 August 1986 – 29 November 1999
Preceded byKoh Tsu Koon
Succeeded byChow Kon Yeow
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Petaling
In office
8 July 1978 – 26 April 1982
Preceded byOh Keng Seng
Succeeded byYeoh Poh San
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Kota Melaka
In office
26 April 1982 – 3 August 1986
Preceded byChan Teck Chan
Succeeded byLim Guan Eng
In office
24 August 1974 – 8 July 1978
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byChan Teck Chan
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Bandar Malacca
In office
10 May 1969 – 24 August 1974*
Preceded byTan Kee Gak
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
State parliamentary seats
Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
for Padang Kota
In office
20 October 1990 – 24 April 1995
Preceded byLim Chong Eu
Succeeded byTeng Chang Yeow
Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
for Kampong Kolam
In office
3 August 1986 – 20 October 1990
Preceded byWong Hoong Keat
Succeeded byCheah Teik Hoe
Member of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly
for Kubu
In office
1974–1982
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byYong Wee Yook
Personal details
Born (1941-02-20) 20 February 1941 (age 83)
Batu Pahat, Johor, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Political partyDemocratic Action Party (DAP)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
Neo Yoke Tee
​
(m. 1960)​
Children4 (including Guan Eng and Hui Ying)
Websitelimkitsiang.com
*Parliament suspended from 13 May 1969 to 20 February 1971

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

[edit]

Lim was born on 20 February 1941 at Batu Pahat, Johor, British Malaya.[1][2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[4]

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.[4]

Political career

[edit]

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,[4] He and appointed National Organising Secretary in 1966.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9][10] 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.[11] However, Lim did not apologise or retract his remarks.[12]

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

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Lim announced his retirement from politics on 20 March 2022, citing old age.[13] Newly elected Democratic Action Party secretary-general Anthony Loke had originally intended to appoint him as the party's "mentor",[14] but Lim declined the position.[15]

Personal life

[edit]

He is married with 4 children.[16] 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

[edit]
Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1969 P086 Bandar Malacca Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 18,562 60.80% Koh Kim Leng (MCA) 7,346 24.06% 31,484 11,216 73.77%
Hasnul Abdul Hadi (PSRM) 4,621 15.14%
1974 P098 Kota Melaka Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 17,664 51.93% Loh Kee Peng (MCA) 13,460 39.57% 34,738 4,204 74.53%
Thum Kim Kui (PSRM) 2,165 6.36%
Lee Kou Ming (PEKEMAS) 726 2.13%
1978 P081 Petaling Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 41,017 62.83% Yeoh Poh San (MCA) 24,263 37.17% 90,611 16,754
1982 P098 Kota Melaka Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 29,310 54.51% Chan Teck Chan (MCA) 24,459 45.49% 54,914 4,851 78.56%
1986 P045 Tanjong Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 27,611 63.43% Koh Tsu Koon (Gerakan) 15,921 36.57% 44,463 11,690 73.32%
1990 Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 30,954 69.66% Boey Weng Keat (Gerakan) 13,485 30.34% 45,392 17,469 74.55%
1995 P048 Tanjong Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 25,622 56.75% Oh Keng Seng (Gerakan) 18,727 41.48% 45,971 6,895 72.57%
Khor Gark Kim (PBS) 800 1.77%
1999 P047 Bukit Bendera Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 24,176 49.50% Chia Kwang Chye (Gerakan) 24,280 49.72% 49,887 104 71.67%
2004 P064 Ipoh Timor Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 28,851 60.20% Thong Fah Chong (MCA) 19,077 39.80% 49,175 9,774 67.06%
2008 Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 37,364 70.12% Liew Mun Hon (MCA) 15,422 28.94% 53,994 21,942 70.45%
2013 P162 Gelang Patah Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 54,284 57.74% Abdul Ghani Othman (UMNO) 39,522 42.04% 95,071 14,762 89.08%
2018 P162 Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 80,726 69.24% Jason Teoh Sew Hock (MCA) 35,862 30.76% 118,779 44,864 85.90%
Selangor State Legislative Assembly
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1968 N17 Serdang Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 5,928 42.98% Thuan Paik Phok (MCA) 6,535 47.38% 607
Tan Han Swee (Gerakan) 1,330 9.64%
Malacca State Legislative Assembly
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1974 N18 Kubu Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 4,746 K. Sivapunniam (MIC) 1,881 2,865 81.85%
Tan Giap Seng (PEKEMAS) 697
Thum Kui Kim (PSRM) 433
1978 Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 12,739 4,649
1982 N20 Bandar Hilir Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 3,384 Gan Boon Leong (MCA) 6,447 10,050 3,063 77.9%
Lee Ching Sen (IND) 44
Penang State Legislative Assembly
Year Constituency Candidate Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1986 N24 Kampong Kolam Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 8,900 63.07% Tham Soon Seong (Gerakan) 5,211 36.93% 14,391 3,689 73.49%
1990 N22 Padang Kota Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 6,317 52.96% Lim Chong Eu (Gerakan) 5,611 47.04% 12,221 706 72.14%
1995 N19 Tanjong Bunga Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 5,384 29.15% Koh Tsu Koon (Gerakan) 13,087 70.85% 18,815 7,703 77.68%
1999 N21 Kebun Bunga Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 5,142 37.11% Teng Hock Nan (Gerakan) 8,551 61.72% 14,195 3,409 68.67%

Honours

[edit]

Honours of Malaysia

[edit]

Timeline

[edit]
  • 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).
  • 1987: Detained under the Internal Security Act in Operation Lallang for 17 months.
  • 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

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  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 Bank Negara RM30 Billion Forex Losses Scandal (1994)
  19. The Highland Tower Tragedy (1994)
  20. Pendedahan Skandal Kewangan – Siapa Petualang FELCRA? (1994)
  21. Land Acquisition Act – Abuses, Injustices, Reform (1994)
  22. I.T. For All (1997)
  23. Cyberlaws in Malaysia (1997)
  24. Economic & Financial Crisis (1998)
  25. Political & Economic Crisis in Malaysia (1998)
  26. The Budget That Was Never Passed (1999)
  27. Constitutional Case of the Millennium (2000)
  28. BA & Islamic State (2001)
  29. No To 929 (2002)
  30. DAP (2004)

Notes and references

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  1. ^ Leifer, Michael (2013). Dictionary of the Modern Politics of Southeast Asia (3rd (revised) ed.). Routledge. p. 166. ISBN 978-1135129385.
  2. ^ Ooi, Kee Beng (2011). The Right TO Differ: A Biographical Sketch of Lim Kit Siang. Research for Social Advancement. p. 3. ISBN 9789675942068.
  3. ^ "與家人福建尋根‧冠英"還鄉"百感交集". Sin Chew Daily. 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Kee, Thuan Chye (2021). Lim Kit Siang. Volume 1: None but the Bold. Singapore: Landmark Books. ISBN 978-981-18-2203-2.
  5. ^ "新旧对照: 林吉祥与柔佛". Sin Chew Daily. 16 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Biodata of Lim Kit Siang". DAP Malaysia. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Malaysia revives indefinite jail raising fears of repression". AP News. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  8. ^ Rahman, Rashid A. (1994). The Conduct of Elections in Malaysia, pp. 204–205. Kuala Lumpur: Berita Publishing. ISBN 967-969-331-7.
  9. ^ Sivanandam, Hemananthani (22 October 2015). "Dewan suspends Kit Siang for six months". The Star. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  10. ^ Chie, Kow Gah (22 October 2015). "Kit Siang suspended six months, BN MPs wave goodbye". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  11. ^ "Parliament suspends Kit Siang six months for insulting Speaker". New Straits Times. 22 October 2015.
  12. ^ PALANSAMY, YISWAREE (22 October 2015). "Kit Siang suspended six months from Parliament". Malay Mail. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  13. ^ Tong, Geraldine (20 March 2022). "Kit Siang announces retirement from politics". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Loke elected new DAP secretary-general". Free Malaysia Today. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Kit Siang turns down offer to be DAP mentor". The Star (Malaysia). 13 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  16. ^ Lim Kit Siang: Biodata
  17. ^ "Just call me Kit, says DAP veteran after receiving 'Tan Sri' title". FMT. 5 June 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  18. ^ "DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang leads Penang governor's birthday honours list". www.malaymail.com.

Other references

[edit]
[edit]
Parliament of Malaysia
Preceded by Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Bandar Malacca
1969–1974 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Kota Melaka
1974–1978 		Succeeded by
Chan Teck Chan
Preceded by
Oh Keng Sang
 Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Petaling
1978–1982 		Succeeded by
Yeoh Poh San
Preceded by
Chan Teck Chan
 Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Kota Melaka
1982–1986 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Tanjong
1986–1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Thong Fah Thong
 Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Ipoh Timor
2004–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Gelang Patah
2013–2018 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of the Dewan Rakyat
for Iskandar Puteri
2018–2022 		Succeeded by
Assembly seats
New constituency Member of the Malacca State Legislative Assembly
for Kubu
1974–1982 		Succeeded by
Yong Wee Yook
Preceded by
Wong Hoong Keat
 Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
for Kampong Kolam
1986–1990 		Succeeded by
Cheah Teik Hoe
Preceded by Member of the Penang State Legislative Assembly
for Padang Kota
1990–1995 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
New office National Organising Secretary of the Democratic Action Party
1966–1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Fan Yew Teng (acting)
 Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party
1969–1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by National Chairman of the Democratic Action Party
1999–2004 		Succeeded by
New office Chairman of the Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission of the Democratic Action Party
2004–2022 		Position abolished
Parliamentary Leader of the Democratic Action Party
2008–2018 		Succeeded by
Mentor of the Democratic Action Party
2022 		Position abolished
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
1973–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Edmund Langgu Saga
 Leader of the Opposition
1975–1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
2004–2008 		Succeeded by
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