Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has directed all government departments to fly the Penang state flag at half-mast until after former Penang chief minister Lim Chong Eu’s funera l is over on Sunday, as a sign of deep mourning and sorrow.

NONE Lim ( left ) said he had asked state secretary Zainal Rahim Seman to request all federal government departments and schools to fly the Penang flag at half-mast until after his burial is carried out as a mark of respect for this “giant of a politician who ushered in a new age for the state”.

Flying the flag at half-mast for a former chief minister sets a new precedent as it wasn’t done even during the first chief minister Wong Pow Nee’s time. Flying the flag at half-mast was only done if the chief minister of the day dies.

Lim added that the state government has announced that it will accord Chong Eu a state funeral subject to the wishes of his family.

“However the state government is willing to give way should the federal government wish to conduct a national funeral to honour his immeasurable contributions,” he added.

Protocol officers to arrange funeral

Meanwhile, Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon said senior protocol officers are on the way to Penang to arrange Chong Eu’s funeral. They should be arriving in Penang by 3pm today.

NONE He added that he had contacted the state secretariat about the matter as well.

Koh ( left in pic ) said over the past 20 years, he had met with Chong Eu about two or three times a year, especially during the latter’s birthday celebration.

However, this year, Koh missed his birthday as it clashed with a Princeton Alumni gathering.

“The last time I met him was in August this year and the Tun had emphasised that Gerakan is a party for all Malaysians, we take a non-racial approach and represent all Malaysians,” Koh told reporters when met at the funeral residence today.

“He also said that Barisan Nasional was formed by all component parties, and it is not that Gerakan had joined BN,” he added.

lim chong eu Koh, who is a federal minister, said he would be attending the funeral ceremony.

Earlier, this date clashed with the BN convention in Kuala Lumpur. However, the event had been postponed to Dec 4 and 5 as mark of respect for the late Chong Eu ( right ).

 

In another development, funeral committee chairperson Khoo Kay Poh said Chong Eu’s body will be moved to Dewan Sri Pinang at 11am tomorrow.

By evening, the public would be able to pay their last respects to the former chief minister.

“On Saturday, we will open the venue from 2pm to 10pm for the public to make their visits; the funeral will be on Sunday,” he added.