Hard to find another Lim Keng Yaik, says Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said it would be hard to find another figure like Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, the former Gerakan president who died on Saturday, in the local political landscape.

"He had inimitable style and it'll be very hard to find another Lim Keng Yaik in Malaysian politics. So, he definitely will be missed and we'll remember him for a long time," he said after paying his last respects to the late Dr Lim, here today.

Accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Najib spent about half an hour at Dr Lim's residence. Present was Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

Dr Lim, who was a Cabinet minister for 22 years, was 73.

Dr Lim, whose last Cabinet post was as energy, water and telecommunications minister from 2004 to 2008, is survived by his wife Toh Puan Wong Yoon Chuan and three children.

Najib said Dr Lim was a national political figure who was well respected besides being noted for his strong spirit and his own political style.

He said Dr Lim had a very appealing style and was not afraid to give his own views on any issue.

"Throughout his tenure as a member of the Cabinet, he had championed the country's economic interest including the efforts to stabilise the country's commodity prices.

"In the political arena, as Gerakan president and even before that, he had given immense contribution in championing the interest of the Barisan Nasional and strongly believed in the importance of maintaining peace in our multi-racial country," Najib said.

At the international level, he said, Dr Lim succeeded in forging relations with several countries in championing national interest.

"Personally, I'm deeply touched at the passing of Tun Dr Lim because he was a politician who had gone through two eras, first, the era of my late father and subsequently the era when we became colleagues in the Cabinet previously.

"...His passing will certainly be deeply felt by the nation, and my wife and I, personally," he added.