- Advertisement -
News

DAP veteran Kit Siang retires from politics

The Iskandar Puteri MP will not contest the 15th general election.

Bernama
2 minute read
Share
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang. Photo: Bernama
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang. Photo: Bernama

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang today announced his retirement from politics, saying he will not be standing in the general election to come.

The Iskandar Puteri MP, 81, said he would also withdraw from contesting in the DAP central executive committee (CEC).

Kit Siang said since joining DAP, he had seen how the party had expanded from a small opposition to forming the government with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 14th general election.

“I saw how our party grew from a small opposition party which took part in the 1969 general election until it became a major political party which set up the federal government and took over seven state governments with our partners in PH during GE14,” he said at the 17th DAP National Congress in Shah Alam.

He said the Johor state election should be an important reminder that the dream of Malaysia as a united, democratic, just and successful nation respected by the international community was a long-term political struggle.

“In this process, we face many successes and failures, victories and defeats. But we must remain steadfast in our objective and never compromise on our principles and ideals,” he added.

His son, Lim Guan Eng who is also the DAP secretary-general, said in his policy speech earlier that his father had been appointed to the CEC at the age of 26.

“Little did they know then that Lim Kit Siang would become a giant among Malaysian politicians for his brilliance, courage, indomitable spirit and loyalty to ideals and principles.

“For many decades, prime ministers and ministers considered Lim Kit Siang the only worthy opponent,” he said adding that Kit Siang was the longest serving parliamentary opposition leader, from 1974 to 1999.

Kit Siang held the party’s secretary-general post in 1969 and was appointed as national chairman from 1999 to 2004.

Apart from Iskandar Puteri, he had served as MP for Bandar Melaka (1969-1974); Kota Melaka (1974-1978); Petaling Jaya, Selangor (1978-1982); Kota Melaka (1982-1986); Tanjong, Penang (1986-1999); Ipoh Timur, Perak (2004-2013) and Gelang Patah, Johor (2013-2018).

He was also elected as the assemblyman for Kubu, Melaka (1974-1982); Kampong Kolam, Penang (1986-1990) and Padang Kota, Penang (1990-1995).