Leaders toast Kit Siang's achievements
Published: Feb 19, 2011 11:39 AM | Updated: Feb 20, 2011 1:32 AM
A winner, the best of the best, an anchor, a caring person, stubbornly optimistic.
These were among the many superlatives used to describe DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang as the party stalwart gets ready to celebrate his 70th birthday tomorrow.
A winner, the best of the best, an anchor, a caring person, stubbornly optimistic.
These were among the many superlatives used to describe DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang (right) as the party stalwart gets ready to celebrate his 70th birthday tomorrow.
DAP leaders were profuse in their praise of the party veteran, who had fought and stood his ground for the party on innumerable occasions from the mid-1960s until today.
Starting his political career in 1966, Lim quickly established himself as a tour-de-force in the Malaysian political scene, a constant thorn in the ruling BN administration’s side.
He was steadfast with the party despite his ISA detention with over 100 others during Operation Lallang in 1987, and DAP’s near wipe-out by the BN in the 1995 general election.
Lim also helped the party weather a debilitating spate of defections in 1996, while at the same time fighting against the unfair imprisonment of his son Lim Guan Eng, who is now Penang chief minister.
Following are excerpts from the tributes to Lim from various political leaders:
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Gua Musang MP
You have consistently and courageously spoken up against corruption and the various misdeeds and defaults of the government and demanded action, both in Parliment as well as outside it, depite the possible reprisals, the threats and even possible punitive actions that might be taken against you, which in fact you have suffered in the past. But you have not kept your silence; you continue to grow bigger and speak even louder.
In the end, it seems to me you are the winner because, despite what your opponents say about you, as long as you know and believe what you stand for is good for the poeple and the country, you are on the right path.
Karpal Singh, DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP
People think he is a very serious man but Kit has got a humorous side, too. Truly, without him, DAP would not be where it is today. As I have always said, no one is indispensible and it is true, but Kit Siang is a whisker away from being indispensible.
He is the anchor and has a lot of fortitude in the manner that he takes on various issues. In a way, I think he and I complement each other because on the legal side, I am there and have defended him a number of times.
Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP life adviser
He was also feared by Umno, MCA and MIC because of his belief in multiracial unity and democracy as well as his oratory prowess at ceramah. He had the crowd mesmerised. The leaders of the (then) Alliance quivered when he spoke or issued fiery statements.
It cannot be denied that Kit Siang is the driving force behind the success of the party. He exercised strong discipline. Trouble-makers were isolated and expelled. He was labelled a dictator by his enemies in BN. He was not. He exercised discipline so that the party would grow stronger.
Teresa Kok, DAP national organising secretary and Selangor executive councillor
He has withstood the test of time. He has gone through many ups and downs in his political career, being backstabbed and betrayed by his closest comrades. Yet today, he is still standing tall in politics. He has emerged from being a mere politician to be a statesman, respected by both sides of the political divide.
From working under him and observing him, I learnt to be persistent, patient, to have endurance and to be caring.
Kit Siang is a caring person. When (former DAP sec-gen) Kerk Kim Hock was undergoing surgery, Kit Siang waited with Kerk’s wife for four hours outside the operation theatre. He has a very humane side, which is not often known to outsiders.
Liew Chin Tong, Bukit Bendera MP
Kit Siang has always spoken out, often as the lone voice, for Malaysians who cannot or dare not speak up. He has been at the forefront of the fight for justice, good governance and equality from his very first speech in Parliament in 1971, when he led the DAP in opposing the constitutional amendments curtailing free speech in Parliament under the veiled threat of disturbance by the then Umno Youth chief, Harun Idris.
A prophet ahead of his time, Kit Siang must have been amused, or perhaps saddened to see that - decades after his visionary pronouncement - diversity is now grudgingly recognised as Malaysia’s strengths by the promoters of ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ and 1Malaysia, albeit for political gain.
But his has always been a principled fight from the onset. His conviction for a better Malaysia is derived from ideals, not political opportunism.
These were among the many superlatives used to describe DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang (right) as the party stalwart gets ready to celebrate his 70th birthday tomorrow.DAP leaders were profuse in their praise of the party veteran, who had fought and stood his ground for the party on innumerable occasions from the mid-1960s until today.
Starting his political career in 1966, Lim quickly established himself as a tour-de-force in the Malaysian political scene, a constant thorn in the ruling BN administration’s side.
He was steadfast with the party despite his ISA detention with over 100 others during Operation Lallang in 1987, and DAP’s near wipe-out by the BN in the 1995 general election.
Lim also helped the party weather a debilitating spate of defections in 1996, while at the same time fighting against the unfair imprisonment of his son Lim Guan Eng, who is now Penang chief minister.
Following are excerpts from the tributes to Lim from various political leaders:
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Gua Musang MP
You have consistently and courageously spoken up against corruption and the various misdeeds and defaults of the government and demanded action, both in Parliment as well as outside it, depite the possible reprisals, the threats and even possible punitive actions that might be taken against you, which in fact you have suffered in the past. But you have not kept your silence; you continue to grow bigger and speak even louder.In the end, it seems to me you are the winner because, despite what your opponents say about you, as long as you know and believe what you stand for is good for the poeple and the country, you are on the right path.
Karpal Singh, DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP
People think he is a very serious man but Kit has got a humorous side, too. Truly, without him, DAP would not be where it is today. As I have always said, no one is indispensible and it is true, but Kit Siang is a whisker away from being indispensible.
He is the anchor and has a lot of fortitude in the manner that he takes on various issues. In a way, I think he and I complement each other because on the legal side, I am there and have defended him a number of times.
Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP life adviser
He was also feared by Umno, MCA and MIC because of his belief in multiracial unity and democracy as well as his oratory prowess at ceramah. He had the crowd mesmerised. The leaders of the (then) Alliance quivered when he spoke or issued fiery statements.It cannot be denied that Kit Siang is the driving force behind the success of the party. He exercised strong discipline. Trouble-makers were isolated and expelled. He was labelled a dictator by his enemies in BN. He was not. He exercised discipline so that the party would grow stronger.
Teresa Kok, DAP national organising secretary and Selangor executive councillor
He has withstood the test of time. He has gone through many ups and downs in his political career, being backstabbed and betrayed by his closest comrades. Yet today, he is still standing tall in politics. He has emerged from being a mere politician to be a statesman, respected by both sides of the political divide.
From working under him and observing him, I learnt to be persistent, patient, to have endurance and to be caring.
Kit Siang is a caring person. When (former DAP sec-gen) Kerk Kim Hock was undergoing surgery, Kit Siang waited with Kerk’s wife for four hours outside the operation theatre. He has a very humane side, which is not often known to outsiders.
Liew Chin Tong, Bukit Bendera MP
Kit Siang has always spoken out, often as the lone voice, for Malaysians who cannot or dare not speak up. He has been at the forefront of the fight for justice, good governance and equality from his very first speech in Parliament in 1971, when he led the DAP in opposing the constitutional amendments curtailing free speech in Parliament under the veiled threat of disturbance by the then Umno Youth chief, Harun Idris.
A prophet ahead of his time, Kit Siang must have been amused, or perhaps saddened to see that - decades after his visionary pronouncement - diversity is now grudgingly recognised as Malaysia’s strengths by the promoters of ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ and 1Malaysia, albeit for political gain.
But his has always been a principled fight from the onset. His conviction for a better Malaysia is derived from ideals, not political opportunism.
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