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 Malaysian politician. He was the longest-serving leader of the opposition in Malaysia, and held the position for a total of 29 years on three separate occasions. He was also former Secretary-General and National Chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), which is a component party of the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Lim (林).
Lim Kit Siang
林吉祥
Leader of the Opposition
In office
21 March 2004 – 8 March 2008
MonarchsSirajuddin
Mizan Zainal Abidin
Prime MinisterAbdullah Ahmad Badawi
Preceded byAbdul Hadi Awang
Succeeded byWan Azizah Wan Ismail
In office
5 November 1975 – 29 November 1999
MonarchsAbdul Halim
Yahya Petra
Ahmad Shah
Iskandar
Azlan Shah
Jaafar
Salahuddin
Prime MinisterAbdul Razak Hussein
Hussein Onn
Mahathir Mohamad
Succeeded byFadzil Noor
In office
17 April 1973 – 24 August 1974
MonarchAbdul Halim
Prime MinisterAbdul Razak Hussein
Preceded byMohamed Asri Muda
Succeeded byJames Wong
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Iskandar Puteri
In office
9 May 2018 – 19 November 2022
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byLiew Chin Tong (PH-DAP)
Majority44,864 (2018)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Gelang Patah
In office
6 May 2013 – 9 May 2018
Preceded byTan Ah Eng
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Majority14,762 (2013)
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
Majority9,774 (2004)
21,942 (2008)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Tanjong
In office
3 August 1986 – 29 November 1999
Preceded byKoh Tsu Koon
Succeeded byChow Kon Yeow
Majority11,690 (1986)
17,469 (1990)
6,895 (1995)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Petaling
In office
8 July 1978 – 26 April 1982
Preceded byOh Keng Seng
Succeeded byYeoh Poh San
Majority16,754 (1978)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Kota Melaka
In office
24 August 1974 – 8 July 1978
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byChan Teck Chan
Majority4,204 (1974)
In office
26 April 1982 – 3 August 1986
Preceded byChan Teck Chan
Succeeded byLim Guan Eng
Majority4,851 (1982)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament
for Bandar Malacca
In office
10 May 1969 – 24 August 1974
Parliament suspended :
13 May 1969 – 20 February 1971
Preceded byTan Kee Gak
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Majority11,216 (1969)
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
Majority706
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
Majority3,689
1st Mentor of the
Democratic Action Party
In office
20 March 2022 – 12 April 2022
Secretary-GeneralAnthony Loke Siew Fook
National ChairmanLim Guan Eng
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
1st Chairman of the
Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission of the
Democratic Action Party
Assumed office
4 September 2004
Secretary-GeneralLim Guan Eng
(2004-2022)
Anthony Loke Siew Fook
(since 2022)
National ChairmanKarpal Singh
(2004-2014)
Tan Kok Wai
(2014-2022)
Lim Guan Eng
(since 2022)
Preceded byPosition established
1st Parliamentary Leader of the
Democratic Action Party
In office
5 March 2008 – 11 July 2018
Secretary-GeneralLim Guan Eng
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAnthony Loke Siew Fook
Personal details
Born
Lim Kit Siang

(1941-02-20) 20 February 1941
Batu Pahat, Johor, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Political party Democratic Action Party (DAP)
(since 1966)
Other political
affiliations		Gagasan Rakyat (GR)
(1990-1996)
Barisan Alternatif (BA)
(1998-2004)
Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
(2008-2015)
Pakatan Harapan (PH)
(since 2015)
SpouseNeo Yoke Tee (梁玉治)
Children4 (including Guan Eng and Hui Ying)
Websitelimkitsiang.com

Early life

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

Political career

Member of Parliament

Lim first emerged as a politician when he was National Organising Secretary of the DAP from 1966 to 1969. At the same time he was also entrusted to edit the party's newspaper, the Rocket. The course of the political landscape changed when he was promoted to Secretary-General in 1969 after being acting Secretary-General for a short stint during a period.

Lim was first elected as an MP for the Bandar Melaka seat in 1969. His election was initially held to be void, however, because of the ineligibility of an election agent who had previously failed to discharge his duties from standing for election in the future. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak, 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 the royal pardon, Lim was allowed to retain his seat.[3]

Apart from 1999 to 2004, during which time he lost his seat due to the Chinese disenchantment with DAP entering into a political pact with the Islamist PAS for the general elections, Lim represented various constituencies in five states:

  • Bandar Melaka, 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 (since 2018)

He 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).

In addition, Lim had also served as the Opposition Leader of Malaysia three times over a span of 50 years. He was first elected Opposition Leader for an 18 month stint from January 1973 to July 1974. Next, he assumed the position in November 1975 for the next 24 years before losing his parliamentary seat in the 1999 general elections. He served in the post once more for a four-year stint following the 2004 general elections until 2008.

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, was the Secretary-General of the party and the Finance Minister of Malaysia.

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 Gelang Patah against Barisan Nasional's heavyweight and former Menteri Besar of Johor Abdul Ghani Othman in the 2013 general election.

Detention without trial

In 1969, Lim was detained lawfully under the Internal Security Act for 18 months. Ten years later, in 1979, he was convicted of five charges under Official Secrets Act for exposing an legitimate arms deal between the government and a Swiss company.

Retirement

On 20 March 2022, on the 17th DAP National Congress, Lim announced his retirement and that he will not be contesting in the Central Executive Committee and the following general and state elections, citing old age.[4] The Secretary-general of DAP, Anthony Loke had originally intended to appoint him as the mentor of the party.[5] However, Lim declined the offer.[6]

Controversy

In the March 2008 general election, he was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor with a majority of 21,942 votes. Lim issued an instruction for all DAP representatives to boycott from the swearing-in ceremony for Perak Menteri Besar, claiming that there was no DAP mandate for PAS Menteri Besar in Perak.[7] This caused the Perak MB swearing-in ceremony to be cancelled and[8] only took place after Lim apologised and retracted his instruction.[9]

Personal life

He is married with 4 children.[10] He is the father of Lim Guan Eng, currently National Chairman of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), and formerly served as Minister of Finance in the PH administration under former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad from May 2018 to the collapse of the PH administration in February 2020, and 4th Chief Minister of Penang from March 2008 to May 2018. Lim's daughter Lim Hui Ying is currently the MP of Tanjong, deputy Minister of Education, and formerly served as a senator.

Election results
Parliament of Malaysia
Year Constituency Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1969 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 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 Petaling Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 41,017 62.83% Yeoh Poh San (MCA) 24,263 37.17% 90,611 16,754
1982 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 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 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 P47 Bukit Bendera Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 24,176 49.50% Chia Kwang Chye (Gerakan) 24,280 49.72% 49,887 104 71.67%
2004 P64 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 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 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 Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1968 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 Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1974 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 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 Votes Pct Opponent(s) Votes Pct Ballots cast Majority Turnout
1986 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 Padang Kota Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 6,317 52.96% Lim Chong Eu (Gerakan) 5,611 47.04% 12,221 706 72.14%
1995 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 Kebun Bunga Lim Kit Siang (DAP) 5,142 37.11% Teng Hock Nan (Gerakan) 8,551 61.72% 14,195 3,409 68.67%

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).
  • 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.

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 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
  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. Rahman, Rashid A. (1994). The Conduct of Elections in Malaysia, pp. 204–205. Kuala Lumpur: Berita Publishing. ISBN 967-969-331-7.
  4. Tong, Geraldine (20 March 2022). "Kit Siang announces retirement from politics". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  5. "Loke elected new DAP secretary-general". Free Malaysia Today. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  6. "Kit Siang turns down offer to be DAP mentor". The Star (Malaysia). 13 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  7. No DAP mandate for PAS Menteri Besar in Perak.
  8. Perak MB swearing-in ceremony cancelled (updated)
  9. Swearing-in of Perak MB Tomorrow Archived 6 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  10. Lim Kit Siang: Biodata

Other references
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