Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik laid to rest with national honour

Members of the public stand by the roadside to pay the respects as the hearse passes Wisma PGRM enroute to the Cheras crematorium.

PETALING JAYA: Former Gerakan president Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik was conferred national honour at his funeral on Wednesday.

The procession for his hearse started at 10.30am from his house at the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort and his coffin, draped with the Malaysian flag, was carried by members of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

The procession travelled over 50km passing Menara PGRM, where the Gerakan party headquarters is located, en route to the Cheras crematorium.

About 1,000 people turned up at his residence to pay their final respects, including Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, vice-presidents Datuk Mah Siew Keong and Senator A. Kohilan Pillay.

Also present were Singapore's Minister for Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Singapore High Commission representatives in Malaysia.

Earlier, Dr Lim's son, Si Pin, who is Gerakan Youth chief, in his eulogy, regarded his late father as "a great and extraordinary man".

"For example, he started to plan a large trademark for Gerakan, month to month, to bring the proud icon for all Gerakan members, and he made it," he said.

Si Pin said several big dreams of his father had been achieved including the building of Menara PGRM and Dewan Wawasan.

Recalling past memory, Si Pin said Dr Lim was once known as the 'Crazy Doctor'.

"All his patients remember him as a doctor who always did not charge any service fee from them," he said.

Dr Lim, a Cabinet minister for 22 years, breathed his last surrounded by family members in his bedroom at 5.13pm on Saturday at the age of 73.

Because of his huge deeds in the development of the nation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sunday agreed that a national honour be given to Dr Lim before his remains were cremated.

Dr Lim, who held the post of Minister of Energy, Water and Telecommunications from 2004 to 2008, is survived by his wife Toh Puan Wong Yoon Chuan and three children. - Bernama

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