KUALA LUMPUR – DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang today was flooded with congratulatory messages on his brand new “Tan Sri” title.
However, the longest-serving former opposition leader insisted on being addressed by just “Kit” instead.
Taking to Facebook this afternoon, Lim expressed gratitude to those who wished him well for being honoured with the title.
“Thanks everyone for the congratulatory wishes. I still prefer everyone to just call me Kit,” he said in a brief posting on the social media platform today.
Lim was bestowed with the “Tan Sri” title today in an investiture ceremony held in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s official 64th birthday celebration.
He is the first former DAP leader conferred with the title, which is the second highest federal award after Tunship.
Many Facebook users congratulated Lim, stating that he is deserving of the title after being one of the most iconic opposition politicians in Malaysia.
“Congratulations Tan Sri. You deserve the title,” said one user.
Many also called him “laoda” in the post, which, in Mandarin, is a respectful way to refer to a senior or head of a group that people admire.
Aside from Lim, the late Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, a long-time PAS spiritual adviser, was awarded the Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota, which carries the title “Tan Sri”.
Accompanying the Agong during the ceremony at Istana Negara here was his wife, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Nik Aziz, who was Kelantan menteri besar from 1990 to 2013 and died in February 2015 at the age of 84, was conferred the award posthumously.
The award was received by his wife, Puan Sri Sabariah Ishak. – The Vibes, June 5, 2023
