At memorial service, Kit Siang takes Kerk's son as pol sec

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang will take Kerk Chee Yee, the son of the late former DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, as his new political secretary.

Lim made the announcement during a memorial service for Kim Hock at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall tonight, where some 250 people were present to honour the latter.

"This is the first time I have a father and son duo who work for me," Lim joked during the largely sombre ceremony as Chee Yee took the stage to shake hands with the DAP supremo.

The 25-year-old Malaccan, a University of Melbourne graduate with a degree in commerce, later told Malaysiakini he was surprised by the announcement.

"I did not know he was going to ask me to join (Lim's office). I'm just as surprised as you are but I will do my best and serve the party," he said.

Kim Hock, 61, passed away on August 9 from internal bleeding in his brain after undergoing surgery.

He was the MP for Kota Malacca from 1999 to 2004 and had previously also served as the state assemblyperson of Pasir Pinji.

Also present during the memorial service were opposition leaders like DAP vice president Teresa Kok, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, and PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

During the service, Chee Yee recalled how his father was always passionate about making changes in the country and would go to Parliament despite battling cancer.

"He would arrange to have his chemotherapy sessions first thing in the morning at the hospital, and after a quick lunch at home, mom would drive him to Parliament in Kuala Lumpur.

"This was surely difficult for my mom, and it was definitely difficult having to take care of my sister and I. But we persevered.

"I lost a father and a life mentor, and the nation lost a leader. He was a true Malaysian who left behind the fighting spirit and genuine caring attributes he once portrayed in action," he said.

According to him, his father didn't want to show the cancer was beating him and fought against it with all he had.

Meanwhile, DAP vice president Teresa Kok recalled how she was fond of their daily WhatsApp messaging.

"He was one of the top three or five people I chat with daily. Whenever I would forward my good morning greetings out, he would always tell me he was fighting his cancer, that he needed our prayers.

"When he stopped responding to me after he became comatose, I was sad. He was such a good friend," she said.

To DAP acting chairperson Tan Kok Wai, Kim Hock was a man who stood for his principles.

"Having worked with him for a long time, I can say he is incredibly responsible, intelligent, hardworking and very thoughtful person."

Tan hoped challenges faced by his party, even recent issues in getting their election process confirmed by the Registrar of Societies, would be ironed out.

"DAP has endured tremendous challenges from the oppressive and corrupt Barisan Nasional led government, but with leaders like Kim Hock, we have managed to save our country."

Guan Eng said he hoped for a change in Malaysia so that Kim Hock's struggles would not be in vain. - Mkini