BOOK REVIEW | A man, his visions and the battle to realise them

 

BOOK REVIEW | Last week, Malaysiakini readers have had the privilege to read seven excerpts from the book ‘Lim Kit Siang: Malaysian First, Volume One: None But the Bold’.

Author Kee Thuan Chye has laboriously put together what were the early years of Lim’s long political career, his ups and downs in the world of domestic politics and the administration of this country.

Much has been put into the book about Lim’s work, yet the Malaysian malaise surfaces because there has been so little in the form of results to show for his thoughtfulness, ideas and policies. Not because of effort or the lack of it but because officialdom and the authorities usually ignore and equate such shows of nationalism, patriotism and heroism, especially those that energises opposition leaders, as propaganda.

But despite such setbacks and being thrown all kinds of labels, Lim has persevered and the years of his tireless and, most of the time, unrewarding efforts have been recorded for posterity, if not recognition, by Kee.

In the process, Kee’s interviews with scores of people including party stalwarts, childhood friends, associates and journalists give an insight to the man, his ambitions, his pursuits and the fortitude which accompanied them.

From his schooldays, Lim appeared to be doggedly following a regime - and speak out and act in the interest of his often-misunderstood Malaysian Malaysia mantra.

Speaking out against racism and restricted policies, workers rights and abuse of power was common among opposition figures but it often fell on deaf ears.

But as Kee explains in a series of interviews, Lim was not one to be deterred by such setbacks. Even detentions under the (then) dreaded Internal Security Act (ISA) and subsequent brushes in court including civil litigation never daunted his resolve.

Lim’s brushes with the law started in 1980 when Esso Production Malaysia Inc (EPMI) filed a libel suit for an article he had written in the DAP journal, The Rocket.

Lim had alleged over-production of oil in August 1979, exceeding Petronas’ production targets; faulty metering system at the oil storage tanker, Esso Marcia; shoddy workmanship, improper work procedures and sub-standard designs and fabrications.

He later explained in Parliament why the suit was settled out-of-court. The whistleblower, who was to be the star witness in the case, was fearful of his life and safety and dare not return to Malaysia to testify.

He was formerly a project engineer with EPMI and was personally present on Tapis A platform in August 1979 where it was allegedly producing 58,000 barrels of crude oil a day when Petronas instructions limited production to 35,000 b/d with allowance for 5 percent over-production for certain contingencies.

Kit Siang vs UEM

Lim's name appears in several law reports but it was his case against the United Engineers Malaysia (UEM) in 1987 where the issue of locus standi (the right or capacity to bring an action or to appear in a court) was defined by the then Supreme Court.

Lim had brought a suit against the government for awarding the construction of the North-South Highway to UEM, then an Umno company.

In the High Court, VC George J held that all those who sat on the committee to select UEM were guilty of an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and therefore there should be an injunction on the contract and the matter should go for a full trial.

The Supreme Court panel then - Salleh Abas, Hamid Omar and Hashim Yeop Sani - held that Lim did not have locus standi and allowed the government’s appeal.

In between these two cases was the Bumiputra Finance Malaysia (BMF) case, which resulted in the death of Malaysian banker Abdul Jalil Ibrahim, followed by a committee of inquiry led by the then auditor-general Ahmad Nordin, and was brought to the fore by Lim.

The book also contains other issues that made the headlines including the much-vaunted battle to save Bukit China in Malacca, which is a place of historical significance to the Chinese community. The state government had plans to demolish about 12,500 graves on the hill. Relentless protests and opposition led to the plans being abandoned.

But everything in the book is not hunky-dory. Kee explains some of the internal strife, the politicking and over-ambitious officials, who often found themselves in the firing line. There are also details of enticements, offers and the like to abandon ship.

To understand the man, the party and what they stand for, this is an ideal read. For the first time, we get some awareness and intricacies of backroom politics and these come from those who have either been involved directly or watched them in close quarters.

Lim has published a few books and collections of essays but this is perhaps the first “complete” book on the man, bolstered with interviews and photographs.

To attest to its independence, the author says in his preface: “Mr Lim (Kit Siang) has not asserted himself in any way in regard to the form and content of this biography. Neither he nor I would have wanted it any other way.”

The next volume should provide more information and perhaps spring a few surprises. The book will be officially launched online on Nov 9 and is available in all major bookstores. - Mkini

---

R NADESWARAN feels that every right-thinking Malaysian has reasons to feel angry and disgusted at the current happenings. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.