THOUSANDS PAY LAST RESPECT TO FORMER STATE CHIEF MINISTER

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Former northern state of Penang chief minister
Dr Lim Chong Eu was Sunday given last respects before taken to Batu Gantung
Chinese Cemetery here for cremation.

Some 5,000 people from all walks of life thronged Dewan (Hall) Seri Pinang as
early as 9am to pay their last respects to Dr Lim who died on Wednesday.

They include state Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas, Prime Minister Najib Razak,
several Cabinet ministers and political leaders.

Others are his family members, Penang Hokkien Association, Malaysian Buddhist
Association and affiliates, state government members and association
representatives.

The funeral procession which included flag bearers and marching bands from
Penang Free School and Penang Private Secondary Girls School had earlier left
Dewan Seri Pinang where the lying-in-state ceremony was held, at 11.30am.

Besides family members and friends, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also took part.

Also present are State Exco members, elected representatives, association
leaders, school students and industry representatives.

The procession made its way from Dewan Sri Pinang via Lebuh Light, Jalan Masjid
Kapitan Keling, Jalan Kampung Kolam, Lebuh Carnarvon, Jalan Magazine, Jalan
Datuk Keramat, Jalan Ayer Itam, Jalan Scotland before reaching the cemetery.

On arrival at 12.50pm, a team from the Malaysian Armed Forces handed over the
Jalur Gemilang (national flag) to Dr Lim's son Chien Aun as mark of tribute for
the statesman.

This was followed by Chinese burial rites before Dr Lim was cremated at 1.1.5pm.
His ashes will be buried beside his father's grave at Batu Gantung.

Dr Lim, 91, died at his Tanjung Bungah house after being hospitalised for nearly
a month at Penang Hospital following a stroke.

He leaves behind wife Toh Puan Goh Sing Yeng, sons Chien Aun, Chien Cheng and
daughters Pao Lin and Pao Yen.

Dr Lim was Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) president before leaving the
party to form Gerakan of which he was the head from 1971.

Under his leadership, Gerakan joined the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition
in 1972.

Highlights of his leadership as the second chief minister of Penang
include the Bayan Lepas Free Trade Zone now known as Bayan Lepas Free Industrial
Zone, also dubbed as Malaysia's silicon valley, the Komtar building, which is a
landmark here and the iconic Penang Bridge.
-- BERNAMA



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