Tribute to DAP Parliamentary Leader, YB Lim Kit Siang, on the occasion of his 70^th birthday on Sunday, 20^th February 2011 by DAP National Organising Secretary and Selangor Senior Exco, Teresa Kok:

Tribute to Lim Kit Siang by Teresa Kok

Someone from Barisan Nasional once described Kit Siang as a tragic hero, fighting for a lost cause. He was jailed twice under ISA and his own son Lim Guan Eng was also jailed twice and yet he continued to soldier on for the party's cause for decades without seeing his efforts rewarded. He carried the cross of DAP's struggle through the good and bad years persistently.

I respect his humility and sense of responsibility.

After the heavy electoral defeat suffered by DAP in Penang and throughout Malaysia in 1995, he offered to resign from his post as secretary-general. The party Central Executive Committee (CEC) however rejected it, saying that it was the collective responsibility of all CEC members.

In 1996, the Party was hit by various defections. At the same time Guan Eng was embroiled in a court case to defend himself against sedition charges in relation to a rape victim in Melaka.

Yet during this trying period Kit Siang continued to speak up in ceramahs and forums throughout the country to highlight to the people on the cause of the economic crisis that was affecting Malaysia. He channelled his energies into constructive work for the party. He also immersed himself in learning new skills such as the internet and information technology. He charted a new course of direction for the party.

In 1999, DAP was faced with a situation where we had to work with PAS to form a viable alternative to BN. Kit Siang went around the country consulting grassroot leaders for their views on this cooperation in order to carry the whole party along in such political initiative.

Then there was this Support, Sympathy and Solidarity (SSS) campaign for Guan Eng which, as Party Secretary-General, Kit Siang went around the country to create awareness on Guan Eng's unjust imprisonment. He was criticised for being too personally involved in the campaign, invited accusations of him trying to use the party to save his son. However, the campaign helped the party to gain mass public support and recognition. Not many were aware or even thought of the fact that it was hurtful for a father to see his son suffer and yet being accused of having personnal agenda in highlighting the injustices practice by the powe that be. The pain and humiliation endured by Kit Siang was just indescribable.

He has withstood the test of time. He has gone through many ups and downs in his political career, being backstabbed and betrayed by his closest comrades. Yet today he is still standing tall in politics. He has emerged from being a mere politician to be a statesman, respected by both side of the political divide.

From working under him and observing him, I learnt to be persistent, patient, having endurance and being caring.

Kit Siang is a caring person. When (former DAP sec-gen) Kerk Kim Hock was undergoing surgery, Kit Siang waited with Kerk's wife for four hours outside the operation theatre. He has a very humane side, which is not often known to outsiders.

His contribution to DAP is immense. Many in the past has quipped that DAP is Lim Kit Siang, Lim Kit Siang is DAP. On the outside it may seem an unfair portrayal of the other party members¡¯ contribution. However, one must recalled how Kit Siang stood with and laboured to reform the party tirelessly through the many difficult times in the preceding decades.

Kit Siang has worked hard to promote young and capable leaders in the party. He has also worked patiently to resolve the party's internal conflicts and factional disputes, building up the party along the way.

On the back of his sacrifice and hard labour, DAP now governs two states together with our Pakatan Rakyat allies, with Guan Eng becoming the Chief Minister of Penang and myself assuming the senior executive councillor post in Selangor. We would not be where we are without him.

* Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Selangor State Senior EXCO for Investment, Industry & Trade & MP for Seputeh