Keng Liat: Erase my name from record for progress

Time to advance: Alex Lim Keng Liat’s 56.35s mark in the men’s 100m backstroke has stood untouched for 26 years.

KAJANG: Former swimming champion Alex Lim Keng Liat wants to see his name finally erased from the Malaysia Games (Sukma) record books.

Keng Liat’s 56.35s mark in the men’s 100m backstroke has stood untouched for 26 years – making it the oldest Sukma swimming record still afloat.

Keng Liat set the record en route to gold at the 2000 Sukma in Penang and hopes someone will finally go faster when the swimming competition begins at Akuatik Selangor tomorrow.

The Sandakan-born swimmer, who still holds the national records for 100m and 200m backstroke, is surprised that his Sukma benchmark has yet to be surpassed.

“The record should have been gone, it’s been there for a long time,” said Keng Liat.

“That was my last Sukma outing in Penang as I was too old by the time Sabah hosted the 2002 edition.

“I would be happy to see someone breaks it, so there is progress for swimming.

“Progress can be measured through breaking records.

“I always hope the younger ones will aim high and not just be content to be the fastest in the country,” said the 46-year-old, who remains until today the only Malaysian to win an Asian Games gold medal in swimming.

Keng Liat first carved his name in the national swimming scene by setting new Games records in the 100m and 200m backstroke for Sabah.

That paved the way for him to go to United States to train at the famed Bolles School in Florida and two years later, Keng Liat etched his name in Malaysian sporting history by claiming the Asian Games gold medal in the 100m backstroke in Bangkok.

Keng Liat, who is also the only swimmer to make the Commonwealth Games podium, retired in 2007.

With Sarawakian and national swimmer Hii Puong Wei no longer eligible as he is already 22, New Zealand-based teenager Daniel Scott Williams may perhaps be the best prospect in the pool to break Keng Liat’s long-standing record this weekend.

The 18-year-old is swimming for Selangor and was a finalist in the 100m backstroke at the Thailand SEA Games last December.

Daniel finished fifth in the SEA Games final with a time of 57.11s and are expected to face strong competition from Federal Territories and Sarawak.