Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik laid to rest

Elder statesman late Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik who passed away on Saturday, was given a ceremonious state funeral and was cremated at the Cheras crematorium at 12.40pm today.

The 50km funeral procession from his house at the Tropicana Gold and Country Resort, was accompanied by a stretch of vehicles including police outriders and three buses filled with mourning family members who were all donned in white.

Hundreds of people including Gerakan members and members of the media were already taking up spots at the crematorium way before the procession arrived there.

When the procession arrived at about 12pm, the Jalur Gemilang adorned casket containing Dr Lim's body were carried by members of the Malaysian Armed Forces into the crematorium.

The Malaysian Armed Forces then surrendered the Jalur Gemilang to Gerakan President Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon who acted as the government representative.

Koh then passed the national flag to Dr Lim's wife, Toh Puan Wong Yoon Chuan before a 30 minutes ritual prayers begin. After the prayers, family members, some of whom were weeping, were asked to place white roses on Lim's casket before it was cremated.

After the ceremony was completed, Dr Lim's son, Gerakan Youth chief, Datuk Lim Si Pin and Wong shook hands with members of the Malaysian Armed Forces .

In an immedate response, Koh said that Gerakan is sad with Dr Lim's passing but the party will continue to fight for the betterment of the country in line with Lim's dreams.

Meanwhile, in echoing Koh, Selangor Gerakan liaison chairman Senator A. Kohilan Pillay said the party will utilise the numerous leadership advices and guidelines that Lim bestowed to the members, to strengthen the party and the country.

"Tun's death is a big loss to the country but we will strive to follow his steps in the party," he said.

Also present to give their last respects today were Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam, Singapore Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and several Singapore High Commission representatives in Malaysia.

Dr Lim, who was a Cabinet minister for 22 years, breathed his last surrounded by family members in his bedroom at 5.13pm on Dec 22 at the age of 73.

Dr Lim'a last Cabinet post was as Energy, Water and Telecommunications minister from 2004 to 2008.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who visited Dr Lim's house yesteday, had described him as a national political figure who was well respected besides being noted for his strong spirit and his own political style.

Najib had said that it would be hard to find another figure like Dr Lim Keng Yaik.