It's Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang and Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat

 No News Is Bad News

Lim Kit Siang and Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in a meeting when DAP and PAS were part of the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat coalition. (DAP Malaysia pic)

It's Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang and Tan Sri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4, 2023: Two veteran politicians, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang and the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat were awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), the second-highest federal award which carries the “Tan Sri” honorific.

Lim and the late Nik Aziz were honoured by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in conjunction with the King’s formal 64th birthday celebrations today (June 4, 2023).

The late Nik Aziz is a well respected politician by Malaysians of all races for his moderate religious leadership.

 

Lim, whatever you may think of him - including his shortcomings towards retirement - he deserves praise and awards.

He has spent more than four decades as an Opposition politician fighting for a Malaysian Malaysia and today, DAP is in mainstream governance.

He and his DAP comrades have seen “the light of day” and to have a hand in governance for Malaysians amid facing reality and doing away with just opposing for the sake of opposing, discarding hostile racial and religious politicking to champion the Chinese or Malaysians.

The DAP is now working hand-in-glove with Umno, Sarawak and Sabah to ensure the Anwar Ibrahim-led Unity Government succeeds for rakyat dan negara (people and country).

So, from tomorrow (June 5, 2023), it will be Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang for Malaysians.

No news Is Bad News reproduces below news reports on the royal birthday awards:

Kit Siang, Nik Aziz made Tan Sris

The DAP veteran and late PAS spiritual adviser were among the 26 who were awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota in conjunction with the King’s birthday.

FMT Reporters - 05 Jun 2023, 11:00am

 

Lim Kit Siang and Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat in a meeting when DAP and PAS were part of the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat coalition. (DAP Malaysia pic)

PETALING JAYA: DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and the late PAS spiritual adviser Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat were among the 839 recipients of federal awards, honours and medals in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s official birthday today.

Nik Aziz and Lim were awarded the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), the second-highest federal award which carries the “Tan Sri” honorific. They were among 26 individuals who received the award this year.

The others include Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul, two former federal ministers Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Anifah Aman.

Wan Junaidi, from Sarawak, is the former law minister, while Anifah served as foreign minister from 2009 to 2018. Anifah, a Sabahan, is currently a senator in the Dewan Negara.

Lim had in March last year announced he was quitting politics for good. Nik Aziz, who died in 2015, also served as Kelantan menteri besar from 1990 to 2013.

Other prominent individuals who were conferred with the PSM award were navy chief Abdul Rahman Ayob, army chief Mohammad Ab Rahman, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli, Federal Court judge Nalini Pathmanathan, and former Federal Court judge, Zawawi Salleh.

Also receiving the PSM were Petronas president and CEO Tengku Taufik Tengku Aziz and veteran composer Ahmad Nawab.

Meanwhile, 28 individuals received the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) award and four others the Panglima Setia Diraja (PSD) award, both of which carry the “Datuk” title.

Five of the 28 who received the PJN award were former national badminton players.

They are Teh Kew San, Billie Ng, Tan Yee Khan, Yew Cheng Hoe and Tan Aik Huang.

Former legendary doubles shuttler, Ng Boon Bee was also posthumously recognised with the PJN award.

Ng, who helped the country clinch the Thomas Cup title in 1967, died last year. He was 84. - FMT

MALAYSIA

[UPDATED] Kit Siang to be conferred Tan Sri title

DAP veteran will be first from party to receive second-highest federal award

Updated 52 minutes ago · Published on 04 Jun 2023 9:50AM

Lim Kit Siang, revered as ‘Lao Da’ which is Mandarin for ‘big brother’ by DAP members, continues to wield influence in the party despite having retired from politics last year. – ALIF OMAR/The Vibes file pic, June 4, 2023

 

BY Ian McIntyre

GEORGE TOWN – DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang will be bestowed with the honorific title of Tan Sri during tomorrow’s investiture ceremony in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s formal 64th birthday celebrations.

The iconic former opposition leader and long-time MP will become the first DAP leader to be bestowed with the title, which is the second highest federal award after Tunship.

Political scientists professed that the award also marks a symbolic turnaround for DAP; once a constant opposition voice in Parliament, but which is today in the mainstream of national governance.

The 82-year old’s photo with a palace official during a rehearsal for the awards ceremony last night has since gone viral.

Two DAP leaders have confirmed to The Vibes that Lim, whom they revere as “Lao Da” (big brother in Mandarin), will finally get a federal award.

The party practises a custom where its active leaders shun accepting state or federal awards but are exempted from the informal restraint once they have left office.

In Penang, retired DAP veterans such as Lim Hock Seng and Danny Law were both bestowed Datukships, although in Perak former state DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham accepted his award while still in office.

Ngeh had to weather criticism from party members following the move. 

A photo of DAP’s Lim Kit Siang (right) with a palace official during a rehearsal for the awards ceremony in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s official birthday celebrations. – Jeff Ooi Facebook pic, June 4, 2023

Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, Lim first came into the political limelight when he was appointed DAP organising secretary from 1966 to 1969, where part of the responsibility involved editing the party’s journal, The Rocket.

He is the nation’s longest-serving opposition leader – having held the post for 29 years in total over three separate terms, from January 1974 to June 1975, November 1975 to November 1999, and March 2004 to February 2008.

He had decided to quit politics last year after opting not to run for a spot in DAP’s central executive committee or for state-level party posts.

Nonetheless, the party veteran continues to wield influence in DAP, which he had led for some four decades during which he oversaw various attempts to undermine his leadership.

Today, two of his children continue to be active in mainstream politics – his son Lim Guan Eng is Bagan MP and DAP chair, while his daughter Lim Hui Ying is deputy education minister and Tanjong MP.

Lim, who is known as “Kit” to comrades and friends, is now retired in Penang but continues to blog and offer insights into the state of Malaysian politics.

He has also appeared to shake off some health concerns and was constantly present during a stream of open houses hosted by the state and federal governments.

Lim will share his Tan Sri title with ex-DAP leader Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, the passionate community leader who represented the Kuala Lumpur Bandar federal constituency, renamed Bukit Bintang in 1986, during his time with the party in the 70s and 80s.

Meanwhile, Penang DAP member Jeffrey Chew, who served the party under Lim’s leadership for many years, paid tribute to the former Tanjong MP and assemblyman for Padang Kota in George Town.

“Saudara Kit is an undisputed towering national leader. He was ahead of his time. He has always been fearless and determined to make Malaysia a better nation,” said the former Penang Port Commission chair.

“Without a doubt Saudara Kit has been influential in my corporate and civil service journey for the past three decades,” said Chew when contacted. – The Vibes, June 4, 2023