Chong Eu – a pioneer in multi-ethnic politics

By Hawkeye - Free Malaysia Today

GEORGE TOWN: The country has lost a visionary leader who was a pioneer in propagating a Malaysian style of multi-ethnic politics.

This was what PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said following the death of former chief minister Dr Lim Chong Eu last night at the age of 91.

Anwar said Lim's passing would be felt greatly by politicians and communities who advocated multi-ethnic political parties.

"There is no denying that Lim was instrumental in showcasing that multi-ethnic policies can work in Malaysia if it is managed well. He also showed to all that rapid development can become a reality if all races band together by discarding their differences."

Lim was widely regarded as the man who had transformed Penang's economic life from port services and trading-based state into a manufacturing, tourism and services hub for the northern region.

Penang is now regarded as a top economic centre in the region. Anwar expressed his condolences to Lim's family and friends.

State-level funeral

Meanwhile, state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh conveyed on behalf of the state government, a wish to give a state-level funeral to Lim.

Phee informed of the state's decision when he was among the first to visit the family's home in Tanjung Bungah here.

Lim's son Lim Chien Aun said the family is grateful for the offer but stressed that they would need to discuss it first.

"We would make an official announcement later."

Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Wong Mun Hoe said the party has ordered all its service centres and buildings to fly the party flag at half-mast as a sign of respect to their pioneering leader.

Wong said the flags would be lowered until Lim's official funeral.

Lim's death comes at a trying time for Gerakan in Penang, according to Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Huan Cheng Guan.

Huan, who quit Gerakan last year due to differences with its top leadership, said the party was now seeking a fresh sense of direction after seeing that its multi-ethnic ideology was now emulated or adopted by new and upstart political parties.

Nowadays, every party in Malaysia seems to be embracing a sense of multi-ethnic approach in wooing for support, he said.

Huan hopes that Lim's legacy is not just about the physical nature such as the state's tallest building, Komtar, but in his courage to reach out to all Malaysians irrespective of their political leanings.

Defeated by another Lim

Lim's political career ended exactly 20 years ago when he was defeated by DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang in the 1990 general election for the state seat of Pengkalan Kota.

Lim's surprising loss caused an upheaval initially in Barisan Nasional which struggled to find a successor.

This was when a relatively unknown academic Koh Tsu Koon was thrust into the limelight and as Lim's political secretary, Koh assumed the chief minister's post and in turn became one of the island state's longest-serving leaders.

Koh reigned from 1990 until 2008 for four terms.

He was among the casualities in the historic 2008 general election when Gerakan was wiped out in Penang, losing all the seats it contested in.

The present Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, is the son of Kit Siang.