[UPDATED] Kit Siang to be conferred Tan Sri title

GEORGE TOWN – DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang will be bestowed with the honorific title of Tan Sri during tomorrow’s investiture ceremony in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s formal 64th birthday celebrations.

The iconic former opposition leader and long-time MP will become the first DAP leader to be bestowed with the title, which is the second highest federal award after Tunship.

Political scientists professed that the award also marks a symbolic turnaround for DAP; once a constant opposition voice in Parliament, but which is today in the mainstream of national governance.

The 82-year old’s photo with a palace official during a rehearsal for the awards ceremony last night has since gone viral.

Two DAP leaders have confirmed to The Vibes that Lim, whom they revere as “Lao Da” (big brother in Mandarin), will finally get a federal award.

The party practises a custom where its active leaders shun accepting state or federal awards but are exempted from the informal restraint once they have left office.

In Penang, retired DAP veterans such as Lim Hock Seng and Danny Law were both bestowed Datukships, although in Perak former state DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham accepted his award while still in office.

Ngeh had to weather criticism from party members following the move. 

Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, Lim first came into the political limelight when he was appointed DAP organising secretary from 1966 to 1969, where part of the responsibility involved editing the party’s journal, The Rocket.

He is the nation’s longest-serving opposition leader, having held the post for 29 years in total over three separate terms – from January 1974 to June 1975, November 1975 to November 1999, and March 2004 to February 2008.

He had decided to quit politics last year after opting not to run for a spot in DAP’s central executive committee or for state-level party posts.

Nonetheless, the party veteran continues to wield influence in DAP, which he had led for some four decades during which he oversaw various attempts to undermine his leadership.

Today, two of his children continue to be active in mainstream politics – his son Lim Guan Eng is Bagan MP and DAP chair, while his daughter Lim Hui Ying is deputy education minister and Tanjong MP.

Lim, who is known as “Kit” to comrades and friends, is now retired in Penang but continues to blog and offer insights into the state of Malaysian politics.

He has also appeared to shake off some health concerns and was constantly present during a stream of open houses hosted by the state and federal governments.

Lim will share his Tan Sri title with ex-DAP leader Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, the passionate community leader who represented the Kuala Lumpur Bandar federal constituency, renamed Bukit Bintang in 1986, during his time with the party in the 70s and 80s.

Meanwhile, Penang DAP member Jeffrey Chew, who served the party under Lim’s leadership for many years, paid tribute to the former Tanjong MP and assemblyman for Padang Kota in George Town.

“Saudara Kit is an undisputed towering national leader. He was ahead of his time. He has always been fearless and determined to make Malaysia a better nation,” said the former Penang Port Commission chair.

“Without a doubt Saudara Kit has been influential in my corporate and civil service journey for the past three decades,” said Chew when contacted. – The Vibes, June 4, 2023