Wawasan Open University (WOU) and Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia will hold a remembrance on ‘The Life and Legacy of the late Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu – A Tribute by Malaysians’ at the main campus on January 23rd.
The memorial from 10am to 12.30pm is to pay homage to the great leader, statesman and politician who passed away on Nov 24, 2010. Among the speakers are WOU Council chairman Tun Dr Lim Keng Yaik, Gerakan national president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, WOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Wong Tat Meng, Wawasan Education Foundation chairman Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap and Gerakan veterans. The tribute will be held in four languages – English, Malay, Mandarin and Hokkien.
This event is open to the public, and those wishing to attend are requested to dress in formal attire as a mark of respect to the late Tun Lim.
In his statement at the joint press conference organised by Gerakan and WOU at the main campus today, Prof Wong said that the tribute is being held with the consent of the family of the late Tun Lim.
PROF WONG (LEFT) AND PENANG GERAKAN CHAIRMAN DATO’ DR TENG HOCK NAN CHAIR THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
He invited members of the public whose life has been touched and those who have worked closely with Tun Lim to share at the tribute and join in commemorating this visionary leader for “his indomitable spirit, his sharp intellect and wit, his immeasurable wisdom and his innumerable contributions to the community”.
He informed that there will also be a brief ceremony to mark the naming of the WOU library as the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Library and Digital Learning Resource Centre.
“Tun Lim knew way back in 1980s about the importance of technology and the emerging capabilities of the Internet for the progress and future of commerce and education in Malaysia, making him the perfect choice of the WOU Council to serve as the founding Chancellor of WOU from 2007-2010,” declared Prof Wong.
Meanwhile Penang Gerakan chairman Dato’ Dr Teng Hock Nan highlighted that Tun Lim along with a few academicians and union leaders, like Syed Hussein Alatas, V. Veerapan and Tan Sri Dr David Tan Chee Koon, founded Gerakan in 1968. He said the setting up of this multiracial party changed the political landscape in Malaysia as before that, there were only racial political parties such as Umno, MIC and MCA that represented the various races.
“This multiracialism is what we in Gerakan are proud of. Tun Lim still held steadfast to this idealism even in the last few years of life. He wished for BN to be transformed into a single, multiracial political party rather than exist as a coalition of various parties,” he stated.
He called on Malaysians to remember and emulate Tun Lim’s fighting spirit and his commitment and far-sightedness for a multi-racial political scenario in Malaysia.
(FROM LEFT) DR THOR TEONG GEE FROM PENANG GERAKAN, PROF WONG, DR TENG AND DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR (OPERATIONS) DR SEAH SOO AUN.
Dr Teng said, “To be Malaysian doesn’t make one less Malay, less Chinese, less Indian, less Kadazan, less Iban or that less of our ethnic identity. We are Malaysians. We should celebrate our diversity and live in harmony.”
In conjunction with the tribute, there will be a display of photographs and video clips that record the activities and milestones throughout the life of the late Tun Lim.
A Facebook group has also been set up, and the public are invited to contribute their comments or thoughts, post photos, videos, or share any personal or professional exchanges they have had with the late Tun Lim through this online facility. They can log on to www.facebook.com/WawasanOpenUniversity to access the tribute event page.
