Former Penang politician, independence fighter Lim Kean Chye dies aged 103
GEORGE TOWN, June 9 — Malaysian independence fighter Lim Kean Chye died late Wednesday night at the age of 103 years old, according to his family.
The former politician was a founding member of the Malayan Democratic Union that fought for Malaya and Singapore’s independence from the British.
The Cambridge-educated lawyer was once at the forefront of “left-wing” politics as well as part of the All-Malaya Council of Joint Action (AMCJA), which drafted the People’s Constitutional Proposals for Malaya in 1947 as the basis for independence.
He was the son of Lim Cheng Ean, another Cambridge-trained lawyer and a legislative councillor in the 1930s, and the grandson of Phuah Hin Leong.
His daughter, Lim Miao Yiong, said she was informed that he passed away peacefully at his home sometime late Wednesday night.
“There will not be a funeral, a wake, or any ceremony because my father did not like fuss so it will be a private cremation with close family members,” she said when contacted.
She said she returned to Penang 10 days ago because her father’s health condition had been deteriorating.
He had a pacemaker installed 10 years ago and had been frail in recent days, she said.
“I would say he died of old age, he was weakening already, which was why I came back 10 days ago,” she said.
Lim is survived by his widow, daughters Miao Ling and Miao Yiong, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Separately, lawyer Cecil Rajendra also confirmed Lim’s death.
“He contracted Covid-19 but I wouldn’t say he passed away due to that, he was already weak so it was due to multiple health conditions,” he said when contacted.
