Yeap Ghim Guan
Encyclopedia
Yeap Ghim Guan is a Malaysian British
-trained lawyer
and politician
. His political career began in Penang
in the 1960s; Yeap served as state assemblyman for Kelawei for one term from 1969 to 1974. He was one of the founder members of the Democratic Action Party
(DAP), and served as the party's chairman from 1965 to 1977. However, he left DAP after a bitter prower struggle with the then secretary general Lim Kit Siang and co-founded two minor political parties
, the Social Democratic Party in 1978 and the Malaysian Democratic Party
in 1999.
Yeap was well-known for his aggressiveness, uncompromising stance and remarkable oratory skill. He once presented a 10-hour speech at the Penang Legislative Assembly in the 1970s. Another famous stunt was pledging to dive off the Penang Bridge
if the Malaysian Government could complete the bridge
in five years; however, he did not have to fulfill the pledge as construction of the bridge took 10 years. However, his aggressive style ultimately proved to be his downfall; in 1974 he tore a poster of the then Prime Minister
Tun Abdul Razak Hussein shaking hands with Mao Zedong
after the former's ground-breaking trip to the People's Republic of China
. Yeap's move was deemed as disrespectful, particularly among elder Malaysian Chinese
s. After the incident, the quarrel with Lim Kit Siang and subsequent exit from the DAP, Yeap's political prominence gradually faded. His other attempts to launch new parties were never a success as compared to the DAP.
He died on March 12, 2007 after two years of long illness due to stroke
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-trained lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. His political career began in Penang
Penang
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...
in the 1960s; Yeap served as state assemblyman for Kelawei for one term from 1969 to 1974. He was one of the founder members of the Democratic Action Party
Democratic Action Party
The Democratic Action Party, or DAP is a secular, multi-racial, social democratic Malaysian political party.The DAP is one of the three major opposition parties in Malaysia, along with the PKR and PAS, that are seen as electable alternatives to the Barisan Nasional coalition of parties...
(DAP), and served as the party's chairman from 1965 to 1977. However, he left DAP after a bitter prower struggle with the then secretary general Lim Kit Siang and co-founded two minor political parties
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
, the Social Democratic Party in 1978 and the Malaysian Democratic Party
Malaysian Democratic Party
The Malaysian Democratic Party was a political party in Malaysia formed by Wee Choo Keong in 1998, after he was expelled from Democratic Action Party due to his fall-out and failed revolt against then secretary-general Lim Kit Siang....
in 1999.
Yeap was well-known for his aggressiveness, uncompromising stance and remarkable oratory skill. He once presented a 10-hour speech at the Penang Legislative Assembly in the 1970s. Another famous stunt was pledging to dive off the 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...
if the Malaysian Government could complete the bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
in five years; however, he did not have to fulfill the pledge as construction of the bridge took 10 years. However, his aggressive style ultimately proved to be his downfall; in 1974 he tore a poster of the then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
Tun Abdul Razak Hussein shaking hands with Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
after the former's ground-breaking trip to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Yeap's move was deemed as disrespectful, particularly among elder Malaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese
Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin. Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries. Within Malaysia, they are usually simply referred to as "Chinese" in all languages. The term Chinese Malaysian is also sometimes used to refer to...
s. After the incident, the quarrel with Lim Kit Siang and subsequent exit from the DAP, Yeap's political prominence gradually faded. His other attempts to launch new parties were never a success as compared to the DAP.
He died on March 12, 2007 after two years of long illness due to stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.