Lim Teck Ghee
In December 2006, when a political analyst blogger wrote to commend my work in the corporate equity controversy, I wrote: "The truly towering Malaysian - head and heels above everyone else – is Kit Siang for his unwavering principled stand on behalf of justice, truth and equality over all these years. To me an important factor in where we are today in our democracy owes a great deal to the untiring efforts of Kit. Through his long political career he has been a true Malaysian political giant where others have been pygmies.
Again in 2008 on the occasion of a book launch of Malaysia under Dollah Badawi I told the audience:
Much has been written about the political leadership role of Anwar in this election – how he has played a key part in bringing DAP, PAS and PKR together to challenge the political hegemony of BN and UMNO and galvanizing the electoral vote for the opposition. This is true and an important part of how future political events will unfold will depend on Anwar’s leadership.
However, as a scholar looking at the longer term ebb and flow of politics in the country - at this moment when many are celebrating a breakthrough in our political system - I wish to pay tribute to Lim Kit Siang who has been an indomitable fighter for democracy, justice and good governance.
That Malaysia's democracy has stayed alive is largely because of the DAP and Lim Kit Siang.
Finally in an article which was to be part of a book paying tribute to Kit being put together by a colleague, I had written in 2018
It is equally clear that Kit has one more lap to go in his life long political marathon. This is to see the DAP through the latest period of turmoil for the party
I wrote about new dangers of less principled compromise and concerns that the party may be aping the Barisan’s chase for benefits for its leaders and supporters. If that happens, the blame cannot be attributed to BN’s machinations.
Within the party, the challenge for Kit is also to attract more Malays and non-Chinese especially from East Malaysia and help them advance in the party's leadership ranks so that the DAP is in all senses a truly Malaysian party.
And lastly, he, together with the other opposition leaders have to keep Pakatan Harapan intact and cohesive so that the country can survive a future that is looking more dangerous and showing no signs of a moderation or let up in its racially and religiously divisive politics.
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