The late Dr Lim Chong Eu

I was in Guilin, Guangxi, China when Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, someone e-mail the news to me. Far from the Penang island, I remember the late Dr Lim, and was sad he passed away.

Personally I only have two encounter with the late Tun Dr Lim, one was at the opening of Sunshine, Falim and the other during one of the dinner organized by Penang Gerakan long time ago when he was still a Chief Minister. But he has been familiar name to me even before he become a Chief Minister. His clinic, Su Beng Dispensary was just the same street where I spent my childhood. He is a hero to me, and to many Penang people. I even named my youngest brother's 2nd name after him in 1970, after he won the state election in 1969 and become the Chief Minister of Penang. I still remember my childhood days, other than socialist front, Dr Lim Chong Eu was the personality that can attracted the hearts of Penang people, especially in the streets of old Georgetown. Still remember "boh-mia-si", his best frontline man in political war, come from the same neighborhood, a nobody from the coffin shop(now called funeral parlour) become active in politic, and later become a state assemblyman.

Still remember the time before 1969, the Gerakan flag was hang in front of the shop to support Dr Lim; this is despite Socialist Front was strong at that time. Remember following the news of 1969 election closely until early in the morning, where Gerakan won the state election. The excitement was on par with 308. The May 13th incident that followed, which destroyed the dream of Dr Lim and many Penang people. It was disappointment,sad and anger....

My brother was born during the period. How difficult for us to obtain milk powder supplies during the period, where curfew after curfew were imposed...

I continued schooling, relationship still remain intact between students of different races, we still go hiking and camping together...Dr Lim was able to put aside his political ambition and accept the reality of current political climate, a political coalition was formed. Even politically many things had changed, and the introduction of New Economic Policy, he still continued to lead Penang. Like Singapore, Penang has nothing, she had lost the free port status earlier. In the early 70s, many school leavers found difficulty to find job. There was no factory, no industry, many Penang youngster left the state to other places....

KOMTAR was constructed, Penang bridge was built, industrial zone was set up. Penang had changed and moved to the new era of industrialization, many found employment, which also provided employment for people from neighboring states. Dr Lim still have the power base to bargain with the federal government.

His political career was terminated when he was defeated by opposition leader Lim Kit Siang. Many Penang people was shocked, but some had voted against him. He gracefully withdraw from politic. The political era of Dr Lim Chong Eu was ended. At that time I was not in Penang, living at the east coast beside South China Sea, I was sad for him. How can they vote against him? But Penang people was divided by political reality, not because they do not like him, but they need to make a difficult choice for the future of the state. His opposition was a strong opposition leader, a worthy challenger, a personality of his era. They have a good fight, no one was a looser, Dr Lim was defeated in state election, but won as he gracefully withdraw from politic like a Baba gentleman. He is the victor of fight for state democracy. The event signal that political climate has changed in Penang. His successor Tan Sri Koh Tze Koon was in comfort zone for a long time, but not aware of up and coming climate of change, the ignorance later led to the 308 when threshold point was finally broken.....

Tan Sri Koh was not the same as Dr Lim, he has no power base to bargain and fight for Penang. He was more like a timid recipient of anything that federal give, but not the politician that can fight and bargain like Dr Lim. The power game was totally different. Dr Lim has the respect of the opposition and the coalition parties. He was from the nation founding era. Tan Sri Koh was always overpower by his coalition parties, that was what Penang people perceived, and rightly they decided that it is the time to have stronger character to be Chief Minister in 308. The new era of Lim Guan Eng begin.....

But many Penang lang still remember the late Dr Lim Chong Eu, his contribution to Penang state, especially the industrialization of the state.

In late October 2010, he was admitted to the Penang Hospital after suffering a stroke. He later died on Wednesday, November 24, 2010 at his home in Hillside, Taman Bungah at about 9 pm. On Thursday, November 25, 2010, he was given a state funeral. The Penang state flag was flown at half-mast from 25 to 28 November for 4 days as a mark of respect. His body was cremated at Batu Gantung Crematorium on Sunday, November 28, 2010(source: wikipedia).

Farewell, Dr Lim, Penang lang will always remember you.....