Lim Chong Eu
Encyclopedia
Tun Dato' Seri
Dr. Lim Chong Eu was a Malaysian politician
who served as the second Chief Minister of Penang
for a record 21 years. He was also the founding president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
, a member of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional
. He was termed the "Architect of Modern Penang".
. He attended school at the Penang Free School
, where he was the King's Scholar
in 1937. He later obtained a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Edinburgh
, Scotland
in 1944.
In the March 1958 party elections, he challenged Tun Tan Cheng Lock and won the presidency with a majority of 22 votes.
After the victory, he called an extraordinary general meeting to amend the Constitution to consolidate the power of the Central Committee. This was met with strong resistance by Tun Tan Siew Sin and his supporters.
Although the proposal was passed with a single-vote majority, the move left the Party split. At the same time, the MCA under Lim also had severe political differences with the then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
The crisis worsened especially on the eve of the 1959 general elections when Lim demanded 40 parliamentary seats and also wanted to make Chinese an official language.
The Tunku increased the seats allocated to MCA from 28 to 31 but this was rejected and their relationship worsened.
During the one-year period when the MCA was under Lim, the party was under tremendous pressure from within and outside. In December 1960, Lim left the MCA and in 1962, he formed the United Democratic Party. Dr Cheah Toon Lock became the Acting President with the resignation of Lim.
He was one of the founding members of the Opposition Party Gerakan before the 1969 General Election. The formation the of Gerakan party threw the Chinese Malyasian aggregate into a dilemma, weakened their political strength and above all, eroded the political representation of the MCA as the only party for the Chinese community. Gerakan joined the ruling Barisan Nasional after winning the Penang State Government in 1969.
Lim served as Chief Minister of Penang
from 1969 to 1990. The iconic projects that emerged during Lim’s rule included the 66-storey KOMTAR administrative tower and commercial complex
, and the 13.5km Penang Bridge
. When it was topped-off, KOMTAR was for some time the tallest building in Asia, and the Penang Bridge one of the longest in the world. Lim is best known for overseeing the emergence of Penang’s Free Trade Zone (FTZ) – later renamed Free Industrial Zone – which evolved into one of Asia’s most powerful electronics hubs.
In the Malaysian General Elections of October 1990
, a crisis occurred when Lim, serving as the chief minister, lost his state seat and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
(Gerakan) had less seats than UMNO in the Penang State Assembly. A crisis was averted when Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik
, the then president of Gerakan, was able to convince the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad to allow an ethnic Chinese to continue on in the role of the Chief Minister.
.
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, Tanjung 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.
comprising Jelutong Expressway and Bayan Lepas Expressway was renamed after him on December 7, 2010.
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....
Dr. Lim Chong Eu was a Malaysian politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the second Chief Minister of Penang
Chief Minister of Penang
The Chief Minister of the State of Penang is the head of the executive branch of the government in the Malaysian state of Penang. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, from the State Legislative Assembly.-List of Chief Ministers:...
for a record 21 years. He was also the founding president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
The Malaysian People's Movement Party is a political party in Malaysia. The party was founded on March 24, 1968, and , it is part of the ruling National Front coalition....
, a member of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional
Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in Malaysia, formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance . Along with its predecessor, it has been Malaysia's federal ruling political force since independence...
. He was termed the "Architect of Modern Penang".
Early Life
Lim was born in 1919 in PenangPenang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
. He attended school at the Penang Free School
Penang Free School
Penang Free School is a secondary school located on Jalan Masjid Negeri , George Town, Penang, Malaysia. Although the medium of instruction is now Malay, Penang Free School was the first English-medium school in South East Asia. It is widely recognised as one of Penang's premier schools and alumni...
, where he was the King's Scholar
King's Scholar
A King's Scholar is a foundation scholar of one of certain public schools...
in 1937. He later obtained a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1944.
Political career
In 1951, he was appointed to the Penang Local Council and in 1955, was appointed a member of the Federal Legislature.In the March 1958 party elections, he challenged Tun Tan Cheng Lock and won the presidency with a majority of 22 votes.
After the victory, he called an extraordinary general meeting to amend the Constitution to consolidate the power of the Central Committee. This was met with strong resistance by Tun Tan Siew Sin and his supporters.
Although the proposal was passed with a single-vote majority, the move left the Party split. At the same time, the MCA under Lim also had severe political differences with the then Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
The crisis worsened especially on the eve of the 1959 general elections when Lim demanded 40 parliamentary seats and also wanted to make Chinese an official language.
The Tunku increased the seats allocated to MCA from 28 to 31 but this was rejected and their relationship worsened.
During the one-year period when the MCA was under Lim, the party was under tremendous pressure from within and outside. In December 1960, Lim left the MCA and in 1962, he formed the United Democratic Party. Dr Cheah Toon Lock became the Acting President with the resignation of Lim.
He was one of the founding members of the Opposition Party Gerakan before the 1969 General Election. The formation the of Gerakan party threw the Chinese Malyasian aggregate into a dilemma, weakened their political strength and above all, eroded the political representation of the MCA as the only party for the Chinese community. Gerakan joined the ruling Barisan Nasional after winning the Penang State Government in 1969.
Chief Minister of Penang
Chief Minister of Penang
The Chief Minister of the State of Penang is the head of the executive branch of the government in the Malaysian state of Penang. The Chief Minister is appointed by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, from the State Legislative Assembly.-List of Chief Ministers:...
from 1969 to 1990. The iconic projects that emerged during Lim’s rule included the 66-storey KOMTAR administrative tower and commercial complex
KOMTAR
Komtar Tower, or Menara Komtar Complex is Penang's tallest building and the sixth tallest building in Malaysia located in the heart of George Town, dominating the island's skyline. KOMTAR is a portmanteau of Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak. When the skyscraper topped out it was the second tallest building...
, and the 13.5km Penang Bridge
Penang Bridge
Penang Bridge is a dual carriageway toll bridge connects Gelugor on the island of Penang and Seberang Prai on the mainland of Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula. The bridge is also linked to the North-South Expressway in Prai and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Penang. It was officially opened to...
. When it was topped-off, KOMTAR was for some time the tallest building in Asia, and the Penang Bridge one of the longest in the world. Lim is best known for overseeing the emergence of Penang’s Free Trade Zone (FTZ) – later renamed Free Industrial Zone – which evolved into one of Asia’s most powerful electronics hubs.
In the Malaysian General Elections of October 1990
Malaysian general election, 1990
General elections were held in Malaysia on 21 October 1990. The result was a victory for the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional, which won 127 of the 180 seats...
, a crisis occurred when Lim, serving as the chief minister, lost his state seat and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
The Malaysian People's Movement Party is a political party in Malaysia. The party was founded on March 24, 1968, and , it is part of the ruling National Front coalition....
(Gerakan) had less seats than UMNO in the Penang State Assembly. A crisis was averted when Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik
Lim Keng Yaik
Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik is a former Malaysian politician and former Minister of Energy, Water and Communications in the Malaysian cabinet. He was the national president of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia from 1980 until stepping down on April 8, 2007 to pave the way for Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon...
, the then president of Gerakan, was able to convince the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad to allow an ethnic Chinese to continue on in the role of the Chief Minister.
Retirement and death
Lim had retired from politics and was concentrating on business. He was at the time of his currently the chairman and advisor for several large corporations. In 2007, Lim was named founding chancellor of Wawasan Open UniversityWawasan Open University
Wawasan Open University is an institution of higher education based in Malaysia that allows adult students to pursue tertiary level qualifications through Open Distance Learning ....
.
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, Tanjung Bungah at about 9 pm. On Thursday, November 25, 2010, he was given a state funeral. The Penang state flag
Flag of Penang
The flag of the state of Penang, in Malaysia, consists of three vertical stripes of equal width of light blue, white and yellow; the white stripe in the centre has an areca-nut palm on a grassy mount on a torse of blue and white....
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.
Memorials
The 17.84 km Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu ExpresswayTun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway
Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, Federal Route is an expressway in Penang, Malaysia which connects George Town city to Batu Maung. This expressway is situated along the eastern coast of Penang Island, off the western coast of Peninsular Malaysia...
comprising Jelutong Expressway and Bayan Lepas Expressway was renamed after him on December 7, 2010.