INTERVIEW His detractors demonised him as "arrogant", "dictatorial" and "a tokong". His supporters lionised him as "plain-speaking", "decisive" and "revered". How one characterises Lim Guan Eng, Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general, depends on one's leanings.
You either love him or you resent him. Lim is a lightning rod for controversies; some real, some fantasised by bloggers and others fictionalised by his political opponents.
From the abyss of Kajang prison to the exalted office of the Penang CM on the 28th floor of Komtar in Georgetown, his journey was jolted with pitfalls and intoxicated with triumphs.
Despite his busy schedule, Lim granted us this brief interview.
Question: You have always said DAP is a party for all Malaysians. In many of your ceramah, you mentioned about your imprisonment for championing the rights of a Malay girl.
On April 1, 1998, when your conviction under Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) was upheld and the Court of Appeal enhanced the sentence to 18 months in prison, what were your thoughts and emotions?
Lim: I was very angry. How could I be imprisoned when the world knows I was being framed? I was seething with anger.
I had to do a lot of self-counselling to work out the anger in order to face the imprisonment with equanimity. I didn't want to come out so bitter and warped. Then you'd satisfy your tormentors. You'd turn out to be like your tormentors.
(Nelson) Mandela took 27 years to bring about positive changes. If you want change, you have to give something.
My time in prison helped me to understand suffering. When you suffer, you find yourself closer to God. Sometimes, growing through the pain draws you closer to God. Suffering is a necessary part of getting closer and knowing a little more about God
There were some silver linings: Despite the pain, as long as we stand firm, I realised they can never take away your dignity. It fueled my spirit. No matter how bad things are today, it cannot compare with the prison internment, where you cannot see your family or hug your children.
Please share with us a typical day of a prisoner.
You do muster roll call six times a day. Daily chores include cleaning your cell and exercise. In between, you do a lot reading, although initially they didn't allow that.
Shortly after March 2008, I asked you what was the mood on the night when you won the election, and you said: "The light that flickers in the eyes of the people makes up all the years of aggravation and frustration."
After nearly five years in office, has the aggravation and frustration increased or diminished?
The aggravation has increased now. But the light burns ever so brightly when you know you can be an agent of change and improve people's lives.
If you can keep that fire burning, you keep up the flames of hope and justice alive. You can see the day when Malaysians can live with hope and dignity.
What affects me... is how they try to take it out on my children and family. I have the right to protect my children.
Back in 2008, you said the backbone of governance is love. What policy decisions have you implemented that sustain this philosophy?
Our yearly cash aids are for the sick, dispossessed and marginalised, so that they can feel the care from this government. The money we give signifies a sort of love. When they receive the money they feel there's hope.
As St Paul said, faith, hope and love. And the greatest of all is love. In that respect, if you want to give faith to the people, they need to see there's a people-centred government that's out there to help them, not harm them.
We also need to make decisions that the people can see are made out of the goodness of the heart.
What are your areas of growth as a leader?
I got to be more patient. I got to be more - how do I put it? - able to resist the temptations of food. (And) listen to my wife (laughter).
In dealing with the different party interests within Pakatan Rakyat, how do you arrive at consensus, and when does it become a compromise?
You've got to accept the decision of the majority with the same good grace as when your views are accepted. Taking a vote can be very disruptive, but that's rare.
But most of the time we make a decision by consensus. We have the same goals and purpose. We are driven by our opposition to racism and corruption.
Plato once said, "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark". The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
It is not easy to take a person into the light because he is so used to the dark. We must shine the light everywhere we can. We must take away the fear of the people. It is time the government fears the people.
We fear the people. We do the people's bidding to make tomorrow a better place for them.
You either love him or you resent him. Lim is a lightning rod for controversies; some real, some fantasised by bloggers and others fictionalised by his political opponents.From the abyss of Kajang prison to the exalted office of the Penang CM on the 28th floor of Komtar in Georgetown, his journey was jolted with pitfalls and intoxicated with triumphs.
Despite his busy schedule, Lim granted us this brief interview.
Question: You have always said DAP is a party for all Malaysians. In many of your ceramah, you mentioned about your imprisonment for championing the rights of a Malay girl.
On April 1, 1998, when your conviction under Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) was upheld and the Court of Appeal enhanced the sentence to 18 months in prison, what were your thoughts and emotions?
Lim: I was very angry. How could I be imprisoned when the world knows I was being framed? I was seething with anger.
I had to do a lot of self-counselling to work out the anger in order to face the imprisonment with equanimity. I didn't want to come out so bitter and warped. Then you'd satisfy your tormentors. You'd turn out to be like your tormentors.
(Nelson) Mandela took 27 years to bring about positive changes. If you want change, you have to give something.
My time in prison helped me to understand suffering. When you suffer, you find yourself closer to God. Sometimes, growing through the pain draws you closer to God. Suffering is a necessary part of getting closer and knowing a little more about GodThere were some silver linings: Despite the pain, as long as we stand firm, I realised they can never take away your dignity. It fueled my spirit. No matter how bad things are today, it cannot compare with the prison internment, where you cannot see your family or hug your children.
Please share with us a typical day of a prisoner.
You do muster roll call six times a day. Daily chores include cleaning your cell and exercise. In between, you do a lot reading, although initially they didn't allow that.
Shortly after March 2008, I asked you what was the mood on the night when you won the election, and you said: "The light that flickers in the eyes of the people makes up all the years of aggravation and frustration."
After nearly five years in office, has the aggravation and frustration increased or diminished?
The aggravation has increased now. But the light burns ever so brightly when you know you can be an agent of change and improve people's lives.
If you can keep that fire burning, you keep up the flames of hope and justice alive. You can see the day when Malaysians can live with hope and dignity.What affects me... is how they try to take it out on my children and family. I have the right to protect my children.
Back in 2008, you said the backbone of governance is love. What policy decisions have you implemented that sustain this philosophy?
Our yearly cash aids are for the sick, dispossessed and marginalised, so that they can feel the care from this government. The money we give signifies a sort of love. When they receive the money they feel there's hope.
As St Paul said, faith, hope and love. And the greatest of all is love. In that respect, if you want to give faith to the people, they need to see there's a people-centred government that's out there to help them, not harm them.
We also need to make decisions that the people can see are made out of the goodness of the heart.
What are your areas of growth as a leader?
I got to be more patient. I got to be more - how do I put it? - able to resist the temptations of food. (And) listen to my wife (laughter).
In dealing with the different party interests within Pakatan Rakyat, how do you arrive at consensus, and when does it become a compromise?
You've got to accept the decision of the majority with the same good grace as when your views are accepted. Taking a vote can be very disruptive, but that's rare.
But most of the time we make a decision by consensus. We have the same goals and purpose. We are driven by our opposition to racism and corruption.Plato once said, "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark". The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
It is not easy to take a person into the light because he is so used to the dark. We must shine the light everywhere we can. We must take away the fear of the people. It is time the government fears the people.
We fear the people. We do the people's bidding to make tomorrow a better place for them.
KC CHEE and FM Wong are lawyers based in Malacca.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.