Lim Keng Yaik

Infobox_Politician
honorific-prefix = Yang Berbahagia Tun

name = Dr. Lim Keng Yaik
chinesename = 林敬益
ancestry = Fujian, China
origin = Malaysia
othername = The Fool Doctor
yearsactive = 1968–2007


imagesize = 240px
width =
height =
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birth_date = birth date and age|1939|04|08|df=y
birth_place = Perak
residence =
death_date =
death_place =
office = Malaysian Minister of Energy, Water and Telecommunications
term_start = 14 February 2006
term_end = 13 February 2008
predecessor = "Unknown
successor = Shaziman Abu Mansor
constituency =
office2 = Member of Parliament for Beruas
term_start2 =24 March 2004
term_end2 = 13 February 2008
predecessor2 = "Unknown
successor2 = Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP)
constituency2 = Beruas
office3 = President of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia
term_start3 = 1980
term_end3 = 8 April 2007
predecessor3 = Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu
successor3 = Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (acting)
constituency3 =
party = Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (PGRM or GERAKAN), part of Barisan Nasional
religion = Buddhist
occupation = Medical doctor
Member of Parliament
Cabinet Minister
majority =
relations =
spouse =
civil partner =
children = Lim Si Pin
website =
footnotes =

Tun Dr. Lim Keng Yaik (zh-cp|c=林敬益|p=Lín Jìngyì) is a former Malaysian politician and ex-Minister of Energy, Water and Telecommunications 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. He is also among the only four Chinese Tunship living holders in Malaysia.

Background

Lim was born on April 8, 1939 in Perak. He graduated from The Queens University of Belfast with a "MB.BCh.BAO." in 1964.

Ironically, Lim is a heavy Salem smoker despite his medical background, with his per-day quota exceeding those of ex-smoker and former Malaysian Chinese politician colleague, Dr Ling Liong Sik.

Lim is known for his sharp humour among journalists.

Political career

Dr. Lim began his foray into politics in 1968 by joining the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA). He subsequently contested in the Pekan Baru state seat in Perak in 1969 on an Alliance ticket, but lost.

In 1971, he became the chairman of MCA Perak and was made senator for a six year term. However, in 1973, Dr. Lim was expelled from the MCA after going against the then MCA president Tun Tan Siew Sin and in the same year joined Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan).

He became the Ulu Kinta Gerakan division head the next year and moved up to become Perak Gerakan head in 1974. In 1976, he became the party's deputy president. In July 1978, Lim resigned as senator and contested in the 1978 Perak General Elections in the Jalong state seat in Perak, which he won narrowly.

In 1980, the medical doctor-turned-politician became the Gerakan President. For the first three terms as the party head, he faced challenges and successfully defended the position at every party election since then. He contested the Beruas Parliament seat in 1986 and won by a handsome margin. He narrowly won the seat again in 1990, amid allegations of foul play, to which he has yet to respond.cite news | title=DAP report Malaysia | date=2008-05-12 | publisher= | url =http://dapmalaysia.org/english/2007/jun07/bul/bul3339.htm | accessdate = 2008-05-20 ] In the Malaysian general election, 2004 which was also the final time he contested in a general elections before retiring, he retained his seat for a last time with a clear majority of 4,564 with a total registered voter count of 15,867.

Cabinet position

Lim first became a minister in the Malaysian cabinet when he was made Minister with Special Functions dealing with New Villages and Emergency work in 1972. However, he resigned from the post the very next year as a protest against the expulsion of the MCA reform movement leaders at the time. He was then booted out of the MCA for it, where he subsequently joined Gerakan.

He made a Cabinet comeback as Minister of Primary Industries on 1986 and served in the position until 2004, when he was appointed Minister of Energy, Water and Communications.

Retirement

In September 2, 2005 at the Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia 35th Annual National Delegates Conference dinner, Dr. Lim announced that he would be retiring as President on April 8, 2007, which was also his 68th birthday. Lim retired from his Cabinet post shortly before the 2008 general election.

He avowed to no longer comment on issues of the Party unless he was asked by the press. But he has in turn disregarded it and commented on a wide range of issues regarding the party, including the succession of the Penang Chief Minister position, and the more recent ousting of a party member that is working under the new opposition state government. These actions have drawn the ire of many within the party that is seeing his meddling in party affairs a cause in the continual deterioration of the party's support. [http://malaysiakini.com/news/82093]

References