GEORGE TOWN: Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi paid his last respects to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu yesterday, and said the late Penang chief minister would always be remembered by the people.
He said the people should take pride in the development brought by Dr Lim, which they enjoyed even to this day.
“Tun Dr Lim will always be remembered by all the people for his contributions in developing Penang, such as the Penang Port, which is pride of everyone,” he told reporters after paying his last respects to Dr Lim at the Dewan Seri Pinang.
Abdullah said the loss was deeply felt because Dr Lim had also been a close friend of his father.
Abdullah, who was accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, arrived at Dewan Seri Pinang at about 3 pm and spent some time with Dr Lim’s widow, Toh Puan Goh Sing Yeng, and other family members.
MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Kah Siong also paid their last respects to Dr Lim. Dr Chua described Dr Lim’s demise as a huge loss for the country.
Dr Lim, hailed as the architect of modern Penang, died on Wednesday night at the age of 91 following a stroke he suffered almost a month earlier.
“The Tun’s visionary leadership transformed Penang into the most industrialised state in Malaysia in the early 1990s,” Dr Chua said.
He also said that Dr Lim had been a leader who championed the rights of all the races and he had used his wisdom to bring changes to Gerakan.
“His demise is a great loss to the country.
However, his contributions will be remembered,” he said.
Dr Chua said MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, who is the tourism minister, would represent the MCA at the funeral tomorrow. — Bernama