By P. Ramakrishnan | Aliran President
My Dear Mr Lim,
This was what I meant to say if I had the opportunity on Saturday which observed your 70th Birthday. Unfortunately, and very understandably, it wasn’t possible. So let me share this with you:
-
LIM KIT SIANG: The Legend
YB Lim Kit Siang and Mrs Lim, Members of the Lim family, Distinguished Guests, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen:
My wife and I are very grateful to the Lim family for extending their invitation to us to be part of this very special occasion. What we are observing today is an important milestone in the life of a remarkable parliamentarian.
YB Lim Kit Siang is no ordinary Malaysian; he is a legend. His public involvement spans over 40 years – a period covering the tenure of six Malaysian Prime Ministers – from the first to the present sixth PM. And he will certainly be there, I’m sure, when a new seventh PM takes over after the 13th General Elections!
This is a record that will not be matched or surpassed by any Malaysian. If he was from Umno, this feat would have gone into the Malaysian Book of records.
There would have been many grand celebrations to mark this occasion to claim this record as their own.
Fortunately, it will not be so! But, nonetheless, history will record this as an extraordinary and exceptional achievement, to be envied and admired. Kit Siang is an enduring and durable parliamentarian. In fact, he is an institution.
His indomitable spirit and fighting qualities have contributed to a large extent in preserving our democracy and what is left of our freedom. Without this man, things would have been very different for all of us.
A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination – that’s what Nelson Mandela said. Kit Siang has a good head and a good heart. That’s why he is such a formidable politician.
Sometimes you wonder whether his day has more than 24 hours! He seems to have all the time in the world to respond to every challenge on a daily basis, refute every silly utterance, rebut what is wrong, rebuff what is unfair, rebuke misdeeds and corrupt practices, reprove unethical conduct and discriminatory policies – and much more.
He had defended victims of human rights violations ferociously and condemned police brutality without mincing his words and paid the price for exposing corruption and highlighting abuse of power. He has been in the forefront of every issue that mattered.
The authorities deprived him of three years of his precious freedom by locking him up in Kamunting on two different occasions but they never quelled the brave heart that kept on fighting for justice. He never compromised, he never wavered. He stayed the course faithfully and never betrayed his cause or his calling. He continues to be a tireless, relentless and fearless champion of democracy.
It is our earnest wish and hope that he may live long enough to celebrate many more birthdays because there are many more battles to be fought and many more victories to be won until we reach the ultimate dream of a fair and equitable life for all our citizens irrespective of race, colour and creed.
Happy Birthday, Kit Siang!
With very warm regards
RAMA
#1 by pulau_sibu on Monday, 21 February 2011 - 5:08 pm
Uncle Lim is different. he is not only able to make important response immediately, but sharp and to the point. he never needed to come back to fix his words. this is something extraordinary.
To many who felt that they are not good after reading the writing by Uncle Lim when he was a boy, please bear in mind that Uncle Lim is not an ordinary person. Likely we don’t find a second one like him. he is the best example we can ever had.
If it is a different country from bolehland, I am sure Uncle Lim would have been called the past prime minister or past president of the country.
#2 by yhsiew on Monday, 21 February 2011 - 7:05 pm
I really admire Kit’s patience, perseverance and wisdom in upholding pristine democracy in this country. He has dedicated 40 years of his life to serving his fellow countrymen. May he continue to be a tireless, relentless and fearless champion of democracy and a role model to the younger politicians.
#3 by All For The Road on Monday, 21 February 2011 - 7:13 pm
YB Lim Kit Siang has sacrificed all to ensure that all Malaysians will have a fair, just and equal place in our beloved land.
Long live this mighty and towering Malaysian!
#4 by jus legitimum on Monday, 21 February 2011 - 8:19 pm
The International Socialist Movement should recommend Mr.Lim Kit Siang the Nobel prize for peace and a place in Madame Tussauds in London.
#5 by good coolie on Monday, 21 February 2011 - 8:44 pm
A Lecture Hall, Faculty of Economics, University of Malaya, 1973. LKS, one of the panelists is being berated by a young student. It seems LKS had downgraded the importance of the Rukun Negara in relation to good citizenship. “What is the second (?) principle of the Rukun Negara”, asks LKS of the young student. (He does not know!) “You see,” says LKS, “you do not know, but can I accuse you of being a bad citizen just because you do not know this principle of the Rukun Negara?”
That was the only time I have seen LKS in person. Boy, was I impressed with the way he fielded questions from a downright hostile floor. Give this man a minister’s post after the next general elections!
#6 by tanjong8 on Monday, 21 February 2011 - 9:35 pm
Well said. It is fortunate that LKS continues to be in the pink of health to serve the country, the people of all races for a properous and harmonious homeland
#7 by boh-liao on Tuesday, 22 February 2011 - 1:46 am
Waoooh, title sounds like a blockbuster movie!
If he were from Umno, MMK would hv fixed him up with black eyes n sodomy charge
So, thank heaven, he is not fr UmnoB but fr DAP
Will his M’sian M’sia dream b fulfilled in d next GE? Akan datang ……….DAP/PR, JIA YEU